A resounding 95 per cent of people surveyed across India said that they want gay sex decriminalised. The survey titled ‘Freedom to Love’ was taken by the 3,293 people on same-sex marriages.
It was conducted by a Delhi-based Facebook group “IamwhoIam’’ and was open for six weeks.
An interesting finding of the survey is that 80 per cent find it difficult to come out to their parents. A 20-year-old Bengalurean, who did want to be named, said, “I tried to explain to my parents by giving examples of my friends who were gay. They said that it was unacceptable, which is why I refrained from bringing up the subject again,” he said. “Relatives keep asking why I am unmarried, which is also another problem.”
Forty per cent of the participants in the survey said that they could not openly speak to their partners in public. But the 20-year-old said that since his parents do not live in Bengaluru, he faced no trouble with public display of affection.
Shariq Ahmed, a communication consultant, along with Prasun Joshi and Manish Vaid, is the force behind the group, IamwhoIam, that aggregates news from different sources. “The response was heartening and surely shows how the online domain can be used to reduce conflict. Our vision is to share information to counter racism, sexism and inhuman behaviour,” said Shariq.
highlights
◆ 80 per cent expressed hurt at not being able to communicate with their parents freely.
◆ 60 per cent feel that their choices are misunderstood
◆ 40 per cent said there were constraints in speaking to their partner in public
◆ 28 per cent needed an occasion to speak to their partners
A good 32 per cent ticked against “do not care a damn” about social conventions. The survey indicates that the convention of arranged marriage is losing steam. Ninety-two per cent of the respondents voted against it. Market consultant Sanjay Satyanarayana (44), took the survey and said that potential spouses should get to know each other over a period of time.