TQC - November 2013 by Queer Chronicle

TQC Issue 5. Volume 3. India

in memoriam

betu singh

event in pix

gujarat pride 2013

TQC MODEL HUNT

JOHN

documentary

out there out & about

SP EC I

the best OUT sHOWs

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ISSUE 5 VOLUME 3 INDIA

making headlines A GRANDADâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LETTER TO HIS DAUGHTER

documentary OUT THERE

event in pix GUJARAT PRIDE 2013

in memoriam BETU SINGH

november 2013

tqc model hunt JOHN

out & about THE BEST OUT SHOWS

pulling out the stops this diwali SHAHI TUKDA

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LGBT FRIENDLY PSYCHIATRISTS, COUNSELORS, SPECIALISTS, ETC

TQC. Issue 5. Volume 3. India.

The Out & About Special Cover model: John. Photographer: Andrew Adams (www.menofindia.net) Contributors: Ashok Row Kavi, Balachandran, Project Bolo, Shamun, Sridhar Rangayan and others. Layout concept, design, production & publishing: Keith. Keeping an aspirational, yet realistic focus on fashion, music, cinema, trends, books, art, events and much more, "TQC, The Magazine" is definitely not a 'run-of-the-mill' lifestyle resource for its online readers in over 25 countries. This e-zine is a non-commercial publication, is not for sale and is exclusively for private distribution. Views expressed are solely the opinions of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editorial team of TQC, nor its affiliates. The content of this e-zine may not be suitable for all audiences. The appearance of any person in this ezine, is not to be taken as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons. TQC respects the copyrights of photographs / images and ensures that due credit of the sources of these are mentioned. www.thequeerchronicle.com, www.facebook.com/tqc.india, www.planetromeo.com/tqc_india, TheQueerChronicle@gmail.com Please print this ezine only if you have to. Help save our planet.

in memorium

Betu singh Pioneering lesbian activist and founder of Sangini, Betu Singh passed away in October 2013. Here is a very moving obit written by Ashok Row Kavi.

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Photo courtesy Project Bolo NOV13

Good-bye Betu Singh, a ka Anandita Singh! Loneranger lesbian activist who rescued and sheltered lesbians, bisexual women and transgendered men who ran to her from every nook and corner of India looking for solace, cowering from the rage of parents or neighbours wanting to murder, maim or marry them to abusive husbands. You have been a good friend, a comrade in a war shorn of bogus ideologies and agendas to hurt or defame others with labels that mean nothing. And let those memories come rushing back when we would sit on your well-worn furniture and drink to those jagged jokes crackling with black humour. Your loneliness and the trauma of seeing so much violence led you to the House of No Return and you did not shy away even from that dark door with little or no help from anyone.

The last time I saw you was two years ago when you stood alone outside your gate defending a poor girl cowering inside your home from her abusive father who had come with goons armed with gas cutters to break down the metal gate and kill his own daughter because she was a lesbian. And you never gave up though every damn glass pane in your house was shattered by bullies and you had a bloodied nose with the police sniggering and standing by. Go peacefully Betu to that place where you may rest and recoup and be our hope in times to come in this blood-drenched land where nothing is forgotten and nor are sins forgiven over centuries. For this is the Karma we must carry to sail down the Ganges choked with the filth of every mean man and woman. And like the Ganges, wash us and make us clean, as if that would ever be possible. So go in peace and leave me alone to mourn you. TQC

Photo courtesy Project Bolo

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interview

project bolo View the video at www.projectbolo.com/betu.htm

“

EXCERTS FROM THE INTERVIEW WITH BETU SINGH I was into security… I was into security for the Prime Minister because I was a Black Belt in Judo and Karate and from an army background. My father took great care that we learn horse riding, music, judo, karate… He always wanted that his children should know everything, and we learnt everything. I did duty for thirteen hours every day and earned money. I started with a pay of Rs.850 there. Then I called my girl friend there. She had her family friends at Daryaganj. They gave us a room at the top floor where there was no electricity, while at work I would be sitting in an air-conditioned space. Now my girl friend came over, I did not have much money. She would just eat a plate of

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vada sambar and wait for me the whole day. I would reach early morning at 2.00 and leave again at 6.00am. This was the only time when we could speak to each other and make love to each other. Initially she was sitting at home… as I said earlier she was living on one vada sambar daily. Then gradually I made more contacts. I got her a job at Hyatt Residency as telephone operator and then even I shifted there. Then we were working together. Then she got a job and now we had two salaries. In a nearby colony, we rented a room. We lived there for many years… TQC 7

event in pix

Gujarat Pride Surat, October 2013

photos by balachandran & shamun

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event in pix

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Around 170 members of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community participated in a parade in Surat on 6th October 2013 demanding rights equivalent to married couples as well as equal social acceptance in the society. The rally had participants not just from Surat, but also from across the country as well as overseas. The parade, Gujarat LGBT Pride Festival, was organised by the LGBT community in Surat along with Swalambi Chuwal Mandal and Chuwal Gram Vikas Trust based in Ahmedabad. The 3-km-long parade from Court Complex at Athwalines to Kargil Chowk in Piplod. The community demanded social acceptance and rights of a common man including the right to be married. They also demanded removal of Section 377 of IPC as well as legalisation of LGBT marriages. Another major demand put forth was allowing adoption of children by LGBT couples.

“LGBTs too have a right to live in this society and enjoy the rights that a citizen enjoys today. You can’t isolate LGBTs just because they think and act differently. Till today, the society sees LGBTs as unnatural people,” said Swagat Shah, one of the organisers. Surat was the first choice of location for the parade as it is a commercial hub and has strong political presence. The community saw this parade as a turning point in their fight for rights. After the success of the first LGBT parade in Surat, the organisers are planning for a second parade in Ahmedabad in December 2013. The announcement was made by the organisers in the parade held in Surat on Sunday. The second parade will be organised by Swalambi Chuwal Mandal. TQC

www.tinyurl.com/LGBTSURAT 10

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Out There DOCUMENTARY

Stephen Fry begins his journey not far from home as he talks to Sir Elton John an Uganda where the government is proposing a new law that would put gay people of Reparative Therapy. Stephen Fry Out There follows the popular comedian as h countries of Uganda, America, Russia, Brazil and India and along the way encou Disclaimer: The photographs are used only to publicise the documentary. Photographs are copyrighted and property to their respective owners.

www.tinyurl.com/documentary1 www.tinyurl.com/documentary2 12

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feature

nd David Furnish about their experiences coming out. He then makes his way to e to death. He then makes his way to America to learn more about the workings he travels around the world to learn what it means to be gay. He visits the unters some of the most notorious homophobes on the planet.

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making headlines

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world

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A letter that a grandfather wrote to his daughter after she kicked out her son for being gay is taking social media by storm.

out & about

THE BEST OUT SHOWS From Mitchell and Cameron on “Modern Family” to Unique from Glee, there are a number of well-known LGBT characters on TV, but a new report shows that number is decreasing. According to a new study by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the number of LGBT characters on TV has fallen from 2012’s record-high amount. The “Where We Are on TV” report found that only 3.3 percent of the series regulars on primetime broadcast scripted series featured in the 2013-14 TV season were LGBT. Last year, 4.4 percent of series regulars were LGBT. As part of this study, each network is assigned a grade on a scale of excellent, good, adequate or failing, and while no network received the top mark in the seventh annual Network Responsibility Index, ABC, ABC Family, The CW, Fox, MTV, NBC and Showtime all received a good rating. CBS, FX, HBO, TLC, TNT and USA Network all received an adequate rating, and History and TBS both received a failing grade. The decline in the number of LGBT characters seen on TV is thought to have something to do with network cancellations of shows featuring these individuals. NBC’s “The New Normal” was canceled after one season, as were “Go On,” “Smash,” “Partners,” “Happy Endings,” “Southland,” “Don’t Trust the B---- in Apt. 23,” “Malibu Country,” “90210,” “Emily Owens,” 16

shows

“The Office” and “L.A. Complex.” All of these shows featured openly gay or bisexual characters. “Last season was a stellar one when it comes to the sheer number of gay, lesbian and bisexual representations on television, though diversity within those storylines showed room for improvement,” GLAAD spokesman Wilson Cruz said. “Though the number of LGBT characters dropped this season, shows like ‘The Fosters,’ with an interracial female couple raising a family, and characters like Unique on ‘Glee’ have not only moved the conversation about LGBT people forward, but are also a hit with audiences.” TQC presents a list of our favorite ‘out’ shows that feature openly queer characters.

Article source: FashionNStyle. Disclaimer: The photographs are used only to publicise the Shows. Photographs are copyrighted and property to their respective owners. TQC

the ellen degeneres show

will & grace

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modern family

the FOSTERS

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glee

ugly betty

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brothers & sisters

six feet under

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the new normal

little britain

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TQC model hunt

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Photographs by Andrew Adams www.menofindia.net (Website launching soon)

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PULLING OUT THE STOPS THIS DIWALI

Shahi Tukda 26

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It’s that time of the year to pull out all the stops and diets go out of the window. TQC brings you the Shahi Tukda, a luscious way to kick off the festivities.

f&b

INGREDIENTS • Bread, 4 pieces • Milk, 1/2 litre • Sugar, 1/3 cup • Ghee / oil, For deep frying • Chopped nuts, 2 tblsp • Corn flour, 1 tsp • Saffron, A pinch • Rose essence, 2-3 drops PREPARATION • Boil milk and add saffron soaked in 3 tblsp of warm milk and the corn flour mixed in 2-3 tblsp of milk to it and simmer the milk until its reduces to a thick but poring consistency. This is called Rabri. Add rose essence at last.If you want you can add the chopped nuts in this stage. • Remove the brown sides of the bread and cut diagonally. I cut one piece into four,though cut into two will do.Fry the bread pieces till golden brown and crisp evenly. Use a shallow and small pan so that un need not use more ghee/ oil. • Deep frying in low or medium low flame is necessary to get crisp and golden brown colour, other wise will end up in uneven cooking. Prepare a thick sugar syrup by boiling the sugar with little water just to immerse the sugar. • Soak the bread pieces as you fry them,just for a minute or until you take the next batch.Arrange the soaked pieces in a plate. • Fry the chopped nuts in ghee and add it over the bread pieces(if you have not done that in the first step). Pour the rabri over the arranged bread. Serve chilled or warm,as per your wish, I like it chilled!! But make sure you give some time for the bread to absorb the rabri. Prep Time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 45 minutes Serves 4 TQC NOV13

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AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

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