KaosJohanna’s Weblog

Från min frukostplats på Brödrarna Carltons hotell har jag utsikt över ett av världens dyraste hotell- Taj Mahal. Det ligger så nära att till och med jag skulle träffa hotellet vid kast med liten boll. Ännu närmre ligger Mumbais tidigare bästa bordell. Jag vet inte vad man lägger i ordet bästa, men den ligger hur som helst så nära att det är in genom den jag ser när jag äter frukost. Rutorna är utslagna så när som på ett, där ett hjärta och initialerna G.R är inritat i smutsen. Och här sitter jag på morgonen . Äter yogurt och studerar kvinnan i det urringade nattlinnet som ogenerat på ett icke-indiskt vis lutar sig ut genom fönstret. Och där hänger hon, med sitt kaffe och studerar den rödhåriga kvinnan som trött hänger i sin stol med tvivelaktig frukost i knäet. Och över oss båda vakar Taj Mahal, med te som är dyrare än båda våras timlön.

Så, lite skamset ber jag om ursäkt för den alltför långa tid som gått mellan mina senaste inlägg. En vecka lika full av arbete som av hög feber har passerat. Och i ärlighetens namn- vad svarar man på doktorns fråga om man hallucinerat? Jag vet faktiskt inte farbror doktorn. Ser han också människor med ballonger stora som en hel tolvåring, ett tiotal personer som fotograferar mig i smyg och en man som bajsar på gatan? Ja? Ok. Nej jag hallucinerar inte. Det är nog bara Indien.

First arriving in India, you´d might as well think that you just arrived in Happy-Gay-Land. Up and down the streets men walk hand in hand with their arms rapped around each other. The women are giggling away arm in arm, hands on each others hips. The subtle signs of love between a man and a woman are not to be found. Little would you know that the Section 377 watches over the city. Section 377 that makes sure that unnatural love making, also known as… entrance through the backdoor, will be punished with ten years in prison. That is if the police or your fellow citizen doesn´t catch up with you first. Then you´ll probably be able to spice your verdict of ten years up with harassment, torture and maybe even death.
Richard Florida asks in his book The rise of the creative class if a man from the fifties being transferred the year 2000 would be more confused than a man from 1900 being transformed to the 1950´s. The answer given is that the man from 1900 will be stunned by the technical advances, but that the man from the 50´s would win the Mr. Confused contest due to the many social changes and the acceptance level that has changed. Now, when Mr. Florida wrote this he was not writing it in, or even considering the country India. Mr. Confused would fit right in. Though the technical aspect of the country in many ways is remarkable, the social changes in terms of acceptance doesn´t seem to have moved an inch.
Now, there are many things to consider while talking about choosing to come out as a homosexual in India. First of all- Taking a partner of the same sex would mean choosing love and maybe even passion over convenience. Not even the heterosexuals in India are spoiled with marrying for love. Love and passion, likely to go away, des not make for a good life plan. One other thing to consider is that men and women are kept apart from birth to the day they get married in terms of being able develop and exploring sexuality. According to many books and articles this results in that many more than the 100 million homosexuals in India first sexual experiences are actually with someone of your own sex. Add the blame and guilt and there you have one explanation to way no one talks about homosexuality.
Having said this, one should also know that India is as consistent in their views and laws on homosexuality as the U.S is on the death penalty. In more liberal cities, like Mumbai, homosexuals are more accepted, and in Goa there have even been a couple of gay marriages taking place. The smaller villages are as in the rest of the world small universes of their own. If the people in the village think that “carnal intercourse against the order of nature” is ok, then of course there should be some good old carnal intercourse against the order of nature going on.
Then of course there is the money, and the caste system. A prince of India just stepped out of the closet and right into Oprah Winfreys couch and all the living rooms in the world. No biggy. If you can afford the security. So, if you have the right money, friends, security, location and are prince enough, being gay in India might be ok. If not, you´re just suppose to remember that there is no such thing as homosexuals in India, and enjoy that you live in a country were cuddling with your own sex on the street is not considered gay even by the smallest minded person in the country.