Opinion Homosexual freedom

became a famous designer,I came to know he was a homosexual. Because the first homosexual I’d ever met was Arte,whose talent and love for people is etched in my memory,I’ve become a supporter of the gay community.

Jean Francois Trouve,a most talented business principal in my Paris office who’d worked ten years with me,makes no bones about being gay. I’ll never forget his elegance,extravagant knowledge,perceptive behaviour. I’ve met his boyfriend Bertrand several times—they have been living together for over 25 years. This exceptional couple’s intellectual connect with me is unparalleled. The 1980s AIDS propaganda in Europe was that all homosexuals are in trouble. I was very scared for them,but Jean Francois explained,“AIDS has obliged gays to re-invent a new sexuality,more sensual,more based on sharing moments. The fear of the damaged condom is always present in our mind. AIDS actually reinforced links in gay couples,there’s more fidelity now,less sexual partners! Sexuality will always be important for us,but in a bit different way.” While writing this article,I gave Jean Francois a call and found him in his country house. Bertrand and he had taken his father for a vacation there.

Jean Francois introduced me to the famous gay café in Le Marais District,Paris’s legendary gay quarter. It’s a place to get drugged with creativity. Nothing can replace for me this most fashionable district of incredible creativity because I’m forever looking out for new ideas for corporate work or my own paintings. Alone one day in this café,I was concentrating on some writing when a little drama unfolded. Seated at the next table was a gay couple,one dressed in a manly fashion reading a newspaper,while his partner with female mannerisms was holding his hand,looking up to his face lovingly. But the newspaper reader paid scant attention. Upset,the partner’s eyes strayed to a nearby table. The man there looked back,making inviting eyes. It was an amazing experience watching this romantic adventure in such an open space. Contact of four eyes,interlocked in fascinating gestures that even a man-woman couple cannot craft. Slowly the partner released the newspaper reader’s hand and went towards the toilet. The other man followed him. When his partner returned talking animatedly with the other guy,the newspaper reader looked annoyed,put down his paper. Ignoring him,his partner continued to chat with the other guy,but took stealthy sideways glances at the newspaper reader. In one such look,their eyes suddenly got locked and stayed hooked for a while. Then the partner hissed the word,“Jealous!”. Theatrically,the newspaper reader threw his paper and stormed angrily out of the cafe. His partner ran behind him in utter despair,calling out,“Pierre! Pierre! Je taime mon amour” (Pierre,I love you).

The Paris gay circuit may not be as effusive today,but gays hate hypocrites and are extremely sensitive. My creative route led me to many genuine friendships. From them I’ve discovered intra gender nuances of the ‘active gay’ with the male role and ‘passive’, the woman’s role. Normally the roles don’t change,but there’s total democracy to switch on the couple’s choice. Among my gay women friends in Europe,many had hetero-sexual marriages that broke because they were frustrated over men’s attempts to dominate them. They subsequently became gay. According to them,both women are at the same level,with a comfortable,acceptable hint of dominance and submission. Their emotional and sexual pleasures are different from men so their harmony is a win-win game.

In today’s democratic world,we still find opponents of homosexuality getting incensed when two men or two women kiss before a marriage judge. However,let’s hope that Obama’s support of gay rights signals a positive change of wind across different cultures and countries.

Shombit Sengupta is an international creative business strategy consultant to top management. Reach him at http://www.shiningconsulting.com