On V-Day,it’s Prem Possible for same-sex couples in city

We Men for Equity,a group engaged in gender equality,has planned a programme,Prem Possible,on February 13,the eve of Valentine’s Day. “The function has been organised so that the community can celebrate its ability to love and care and cheer up all those who wish to claim their space,freedom and right to love,” said group member Milind Chavan.

The build-up to this Valentine’s Day has been different for the community. The 200-plus-strong community,Birds of a Feather,has already held a few private pre-Valentine’s Day parties in the city. Apphia K,a member of the group that mainly connects via networking sites,said,“We are a net savvy group and most of us meet online. We fix dates and decide to meet as a group at some place in the city where they accept us.”

According to Apphia,the city has slowly started accepting that same-sex couples do exist. “We had a pre-Valentine’s Day bash at an outlet in Pune. We are still a minority but there are more than 200 members networking online and coming together as a group makes us feel that we belong.”

Meanwhile,for the 6,000-odd group of Men having Sex with Men (MSM),it’s a time to fight for their rights as they approach city psychiatrists to sign their petition stating that homosexuality is not a disorder.

“We have appealed to the Pune Psychiatrists Association,which will soon hold a meeting on this issue,” said Bindumadhav Khire,a techie who had given up his career in the US to return to India. He got involved with the same-sex issues at various forums and has set up Sampathik Trust,which is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation via Pathfinder NGO.

“Along with Udaan trust,another NGO set up for the welfare of MSM,a total of 6,000 such people have been identified in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad¿ We will celebrate Valentine day by giving gifts to our partners and going out for a drive. But we will use the occasion to press for our rights.”

With the Delhi High Court having decriminalised consensual sex between adult homosexuals in July last year,gay and lesbian couples in the city are decidedly feeling upbeat,though the celebrations are a quiet affair.