At gay workshop, comic strips promote safe sex

[Guest guest]

At gay workshop, comic strips promote safe sex

Georgina Maddox

Posted: Mar 21, 2009 at 0236 hrs ISTMumbai

Sometimes it is easier to say difficult things in a humorous way. This is why

comic strips talking of safe sex, HIV awareness and transparency with partners,

are an easier way to get the message through.

Given that the first graphic novel came into being because of some comic strips

drawn for an NGO, graphic art has come full circle.

This Wednesday and Thursday, Delhi-based Sharad Sharma of World Comics India

conducted a three-day ‘Grassroots Comics’ workshop at The Humsafar Trust in

Vakola, an NGO that reaches out to gay, transgendered and MSM (Men who have Sex

with Men) groups in the city.

The participants were encouraged to draw their own comic strips and posters and

spread the message.

“Grassroots comics’ are drawn by the people themselves and not by the

artists. So drawing ability is not of primary concern. Participants can share

their stories, incidents or develop some story on information they want to

disseminate using comic posters,” says Sharma, who was in Mumbai to attend a

seminar at Ali Yavar Jung and to conduct this workshop at Humsafar.

At present, the creations are on view at the Humsafar office. “Booklets and

posters are efficient tools when we conduct sensitisation workshops with people

who are not part of the community,” says Urmi, a Trans Gender (TG) person who

works with Humsafar.

The outreach workers who do projects like Josh, Gaurav and Sankalp, were also

part of the cartoon-making workshop. “These are separate units of Humsafar,

involved in various aspects of advocacy for safe sex practices and outreach for

homosexuals. These visuals will give them something concrete to talk with,” says

Girish, who manages the daily workings at the NGO. “There is a hope that we will

get sponsorship to turn these leaflets and posters into a graphic novel,” he

adds.

The cartoons have been drawn in various naïve art styles, in some cases the

‘artists’ like Gagan have done this for the first time. “This story about a man

who is married but has a gay partner, brings out the fact that if we are

diagnosed with HIV, one should tell both partners,” says Gangan.

“This one talks about a TG who is a CSW (commercial sex worker). In the story,

she tells her customer to wear a condom, and when he refuses she says ‘Main

jawan hun lekin naadan nahi (I am young but not naïve),” says Urmi, with much

glee.

Ravi is not sure if their stories will ever make it to a graphic novel, but “we

are happy to have done this much,” he says, indicating the posters lovingly

wrapped in cellophane and are ready for the display.

First names have been used to protect the identity of homosexuals)

__________________

Vivek R Anand

e-mail: <avivekr1@...>