What it means to be gay - homosexuality and HIV in India

[Guest guest]

What it means to be gay - homosexuality and HIV in India

Does homosexuality vary around the world? Do different patterns of

homosexual behaviour demand new approaches to HIV prevention?

Research from the UK University of Plymouth and the University of

Amsterdam in the Netherlands considers the sexual behaviour of men in

India and asks whether the standard approach to fighting HIV can be

effective in this setting.

Many gay men in the West define themselves by their sexuality: you

are either gay or straight. But the situation in India is more

complex. There are several patterns of homosexual behaviour. The

standard model of collective action against HIV is impractical here.

While homosexuality in India is taboo and covert, it is not uncommon

for men to have sex with men. They do not necessarily consider

themselves to be homosexual. Girls in India are expected to be

feminine and submissive but there is less pressure on boys to

demonstrate masculine traits. Masculinity is confirmed by marriage

and parenthood, so men do not need to be explicitly macho or

heterosexual in order to assert their 'maleness'. Displays of

affection, body contact and sharing beds are socially acceptable

between men. These create opportunities for sexual contact, which is

seen as a pleasurable activity rather than an expression of sexuality.

In Madras, South India, homosexuals fall into three sub-groups:

& #61623; 'danga' who behave like women and refer to each other as `she'

and `sister' but usually wear men's clothing

& #61623; `double deckers', the closest equivalent to Western gays

& #61623; `panthi', often aggressively masculine, who have female as well as

male sexual partners.

In the West, men engaging in sex with other men are labelled `gay'.

They belong to a particular social group with a strong sense of

social identity. Early in the AIDS epidemic, gay men became aware of

the risks of HIV transmission within their sexual networks and

mounted a response. In contrast, the research found that in South

India:

& #61623; Men can engage in sex with other men without considering themselves

to be `gay'.

& #61623; The differing patterns of sexual behaviour mean that HIV can be

spread very quickly.

& #61623; There is no single identifiable homosexual group to target in HIV

prevention.

The vast majority of HIV prevention activities around the world are

based on the example of gay groups in the West. Yet applying this

blanket approach could be problematic:

& #61623; Compared to the numbers of men having sex with men in India,

the 'gay community' is small.

& #61623; The development of the gay movement as another `minority group' in

the US is unlikely to be replicated in many countries.

& #61623; Gay men in the US have access to money, leadership skills, contacts

and facilities which the poor and powerless do not have.

Policy-makers engaged in the fight against AIDS in the developing

world should not assume that the Western version of homosexuality is

relevant. They need to understand and address country-specific

patterns of sexuality.

Contributor(s): Sheena Asthana and Oostvogels. Source(s):

`The social construction of male `homosexuality' in India:

implications for HIV transmission and prevention' by S. Asthana and

R. Oostvogels, Social Science and Medicine 52 (2001)

Further Information:

Sheena Asthana

Department of Social Policy and Social Work

University of Plymouth

Drake Circus

Plymouth

PL4 8AA

UK

Tel: +44 (0)1752 233235

Fax: +44 (0)1752 233209

Email: s.asthana@...

[Guest guest]

Dear Sheena,

Thank you for your mail. {What it means to be gay - homosexuality and HIV in

India]

Many researched try to see differences, where there are none, or insignificantly

small ones. In many parts of the world there are males who identify themselves

as " gay " , whether they use the English term or not. Many/some of those " self

identified gay " males in many parts of the world are not shy to tell their

surroundings about their sexual preferences.

In many parts of the world there are commercial venues catering for those men

(and others) as well as organisations. Some of those " self identified gay males "

have only sex with other males, whereas others might have sex with women as

well.

In many/most parts of the world there are other males who are either self

identified, or called something by others, khoti, kathoey, xanith, bög, pétasse,

loca, miche and so on. Those men might also, in spite of what they call

themselves or in spite of what others call them, have sex with women.

In many/most parts of the world there are males who are not self identified as

gay, nor perceived by others as being a xanith, khoti, loca or whatever; but to

the contrary are self identified as heterosexual and perceived as such by all,

who in spite of this occasionally have sex with other males (and of course

women).

In many/most parts of the world there are males for whom the whole question of

sexual self-identification is totally irrelevant; they might have sex with other

males or women, without giving it a thought, without finding it problematic at

all.

In many/most parts of the world there are men who cross dress, either " full

time " or occasionally. Some of those men have exclusively sex with women, some

with both women and men, some with men only.

In many/most countries where there are gay movements, organisations and

gay-commercial venues, you will find the full societal range of people belonging

to organisations, utilising services etc from the poorest to the richest. It is

wrong to assume that just because you are a self identified gay in the US or

Europe, you automatically have access to money, leaderships skills and contacts.

Unfortunately the social barriers are as strong in our part of the world as in

many others.

I am not sure what the " Western version of homosexuality is " . Perhaps it does

not exists? In the countries in the West that I know we have all of above

varaites of males, and perhaps even more than I have seen.

To me, males who have sex with males (regardless of self identification and what

others perceive them to be) is an amorphous group in many/most countries, which

is not easily dived up into two, three or four or more subgroups (which we then

can go out an talk to...). I think we rather should talk about a sexual/societal

phenomena (males having sex with males) occurring in most countries, with more

similarities that differences.

I would thus urge all researching this in their own communities, countries etc.

to lift the eyes over the borders and seek knowledge in the richness of research

done in other communities, countries, and build on similarities, they are there,

they are there...

And if I could be enlighten on what the concept " Western version of

homosexuality " is, I would perhaps better understand what the problems are.

The real issue in relation to HIV is not what those males call themselves or

are called. The real issue is in which situations males put themselves and other

males at risk for HIV transmission. The risk situation is the core.

All the best

Calle Almedal

E-mail: almedalc@...

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