By Lipi Mehta:
What does the life of an 18-year-old boy, who happens to be gay, and is diagnosed with HIV look like in a country like India? As Gautam’s father succinctly puts it, “Such children face complete darkness.” But in Gautam’s case, he made it the turning point of his life. “You won’t get help until you help yourself,” says the now 25-year-old activist. Born to a family where the father is an autorickshaw driver and mother a housewife, he battled the odds to not just embrace his identity but help adolescents and others to be better educated about HIV and LGBT+ issues in India.
Very clear that he didn’t want to lead a “dual life”, he came out to his father at the age of 17 and decided to fight the stigma by openly talking about his HIV status. A regular face at LGBT+ events and rallies, this is the story of how Gautam’s positive attitude and fighting spirit has led him to a life of happiness and self-acceptance. It’s also moving how his parents gave him complete support and ensured that he gets quality education.
In this video, Gautam shares his coming out story and experiences of being gay with an honesty that is inspiring. Watch it, and you’ll be prompted to share this with your friends and family, as this story deserves to reach hundreds.
The Hulk
A key is designed for a lock, similarly, women are created for men. If feeling sexual attraction towards someone was enough justification for homosexuality to be natural, then by the same standards incest and paedophilia must also be natural, but they aren’t. They are diseases which require therapy. How you “feel” does not matter. Besides, every religion in the world detests homosexuality. What God does not approve of is wrong.
Batman
The popular argument is that homosexuality exists in nature, or that it is found in some animals so it is natural. Cancer also exists in nature. And animals kill, practice incest, consume shit and kill their young ones and even eat them. Should we eat our children and say it is natural, because it is practiced by animals?
Jigsaw
I am against harassment of homosexuals, or anybody for that matter, but I cannot accept it as normal. Some people feel sexually attracted to dead bodies, known as necrophilia, but it is not correct. Similarly, there exists paedophilia, while many indulge in incentuous relationships. Some even have sex with animals. What if all these people took to the streets with banners and slogans and asked for social acceptance. No one in their right frame of mind would call it normal. Similarly, please don’t ask me to accept homosexuality as normal. It is sick. It is disgusting. It is perverted.