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Same-sex marriage is an issue that the Indian Australian community needs to discuss

The Indian Australian community seems to be split in opinion on the issue of same-se.." marriage. While there is an acceptan ce of same-sex relationships, same-sex marriag e still seems to draw out critics. There are however, more questions and answers happening w ithin Indian Australian families, as children themselves are asking more questions Top rated te levisio n shows such as Nlodem Fa111i(y which openly depi cts samesex marriage between two of its main characters, as well as news headlines and radio talk shows have brought this issue om in the open and the migrant Indian community can no l onger ignore this topi c. Indian Ll11k talks to members of the community to find out their views.

"l fee l a healthy dialogue with our children is in order to understand what their sexual preferences ate, learning about gay- marriage through reading, and attending events such as ones organised by Ttikone Australas ia are important," says wen known Sydney radio personality Manbir Kohli, summing up the issue. "Al.ong with meeting and befriending people with sexuality tbat is different to our own deeply held values, will help us understand that gar relationships and gay marriage are normal and not a stigma that relatives back home, religious conservatives everywhere or caricamres in Bollywo od would have 1.1s believe"

According co W ikipedia, same-sex marriage, is marriage between two people of the same biological sex and/ or gender id entity. As of 19 August 2013, 15 countries (Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, etherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Soucb Africa, Sweden, Uruguay) and pares of Mexico and the United Stares allow same- sex couples to marry. The UK will allow for same-sex marriage from the end of this month and Scodand has legalised ir from October 2014.

INDIAN LINK lnteresti.ogly, o n the very same day, the High Court of Australia also upheld an appeal against an Austra lian Capital Territor y ace of parliament t hat legalised same- sex marriages, which had come into operation on 7 r ovember in the same year. Passing judgment on 12 December, tbe High Court unanimously struck the act down; the ceremonies d1at had t."lken p lace had therefore become void. But the court also confirmed that the federal parUament has the power m legislate for same -sex marriage.

In July 2009, the Delbi High Court rejected sectio n 377 of the lndian pe nal code whjch was enacted by the British in 1861. Th is code criminalises sexual activities "against the order of nature", including homosexual aces. This was challenged and this decisi on was reversed by d1e Supreme Court on December 11 , 20 13 to uphold section 377 of the Indian Penal code that criminalises same -sex marriage.

Since then this issue often plays our i.o d1e main media, as polls show that there is rising support for legally recognising same- sex marriage across race, ethnicity, age, religion and political af.filiation.

Director of the Indian Film festi v al of Melbourne and wen known personality Mim Bhowmick Lange is in full support of same- sex marriages ' 'l am rotall y for it," he says vehemently "If two people love each other they should have the freedom ro decide what future d1ey want to have".

This is also reflected jn the views of 25-year-old Pri yanka Das from Ade laide who has been living in Australia for two years now. " Initially when l m..igrated here, l was ta.ken aback by how open this discussion ,vas; but now that I bave setded here and seen how society interacts with each other, 1 wonder wbar's rbe b ig deal? If people are happy with each other, all the best ro them and may tbey find long ter1n happiness", she says Similar views are echoed by ctickec guru Kersi MeherHomji, but he draws the line at sa.me -se.x marriage " Let me say at tbc outset that l am not a homophobe", says MeherHomj i '1 believe that some people are born homosexual and it is natural for them to have same -sex relations However, I am not for same- sex marriage.

Call me an old fashioned fudd yduddy, but to me marriage is between a woman and a man, wid1 procreation as its primary goal I hav e no objection if a gay coup le lives toged1er, have sexual relations with eacb other and a.re faithful to one another. But 1 draw a line at same- sex marriage What would a priest or a marriage celebrant say at the ceremony, ' I pronounce you husband and husband / wife and wife?' I realise that we are now in the 21st century, but still it doesn't sound right to me", he avers. Retiree Krishan Kumar Pa.hwa .in Sydney is also not in favour of san1e-sex marri age. i'vlelbourne local politician Gautam Gupta has however, a more conciliatory approach. Believ ing in unity in diversi t:y, he says that freedom of cho ice js a fundameoral human right, and whether it be religion, po litical persuasion or sexual orientation, it is the freedom to choose for ourse lves diat is paranmunt. " U ltimatel y how people choose to live their lives j5 a personal choice and it is this freedom that should be protected and promoted ," he states. "As a communi ty, we should strive to be inclusive and supp o rtive of all forms of djversiry. It i s fanrastic to see so many new initiatives that support tbe GLBTQI community and d1eir families", says Gupta.

While there i s strong acceptance of the gay and lesb ian choices by the Indian 1\ustralian community, as Kohli bas noted, t here needs to be a strong dialogue with making our children aware of these lifestyle choi ces.

Rajat Bahri from Sydney's Newtown says that it is quite common to meet same-sex parents at his children's local schoo l. '1 am a s tudent here and am comfortable with the lifestyle choices people have," says Bahri. "But m y nine year o ld came home d1e otber day and wanted to know wh y his friend had two mummies while he had one. We did have a discussion about the in1portaoce of lo ve in the family, rather d1an ge n ders", he says smiling

Local Sydney lawyer Mahrukh Mnndul vocalises a d1ought which may be at d1e forefront of the minds of tbe local community.

"lnclian Australia.us who have grown up wi tb chis double whammy of so cio- religious beliefs and customs , rogether with d1e criminalisation of the relationships in India, are conflicted when confronted with the liberal attitudes in Australia," she says "Their solution is tO ignore the issue, as long as tbe ir children are straight, that's an that counts".

One suspects d1at as time marches on, there ,viii be more softening of d:i.is stance and more acceptance of samesex marriages.

~w@JITD®W Sheraton on the Park 161 Elizabeth St Sydney

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Tbe Indian Link Media Group has wo o yet another three awa rds at the 2014 Premier's l\ilulticulmral Media Awards held ar Doltone House in Sydney on 13 February, 2014 They took home the Best Print Report of tbe Year, --Sest Use of Online & Digital Media and Young Journalist of the Year: Ritam M itra.

Three wins at 2014 Premier's Multicultural Media Awards

The Sydney-based Indian media group was nominated in eight of the 12 catego ries. In one category, Best Prim Report, all three finalists came from lndia11 Link.

The awards were judged by an in dependent panel of academic and working media experts, with some categories varying from last year.

Pawan Luthra, CEO of Indian Link said he was proud of the ongo ing recognition that the media group has received, from within the community as well as from the mainstream.

"To claim three awards yet again chis year, reveals nor only our dedication but also the hig h standards ,ve set ourselves," said

Luthra. "1 congratulate my rerun for their talent and their efforts".

After this awards night, Tndian Link has now become the most awarded multicultural media group in Australia.

The event was opened by NSW Premier Barr y O'Farrell, who said the groWTh of cbe State's mu.lticulmral media reflects NSW's status as one of the most nmlticultu.ral so cieties in tbe world

'1 was impressed to see more than 110 entries were received for th e l 2 categories coveting print, radio, TV and oaline media in this year's awards, which are in their second year," said Premier O'Farrell. He also commenced on the trend within the multirnlrural community which is see ing its med ia expand as compared to the main stream where it is contracting.

The Pre1nier's Multiculmral Media Awards are one of the feamte events of Mu lticulmral March, a celebration of what the Seate call$ o ne of its greatest assets, its culmral diversity.

"Co ngratulations to fodiafl Link, with the fortnightly publication taking out Best Print Reporter, Pawa n Luthra, Best Young Journalist, Ricam Mitra, and the category of Best Use of Online ru1d Digita l Media," Minister for C itizenship and Communities Victor Dominello said after bis moving speech.

" The awards proudly recognise the ro le multiculmral media p lays in promoting I SW to audiences around the world," he furthered.

Dominello's speech in which he urged the gathered multiculmral media to put the spotlight on the wiacceptable treatment of girls ru1d women erupted imo a loud applause. He imp lored the nmlciculmral media gathered co continue tackle the " tough issues".

"\'(/e would like to congratulate tl1e other media 9rganisations that won or were nominated on the night," Tndian Link Editor Ra jni Anand Luthra said. "W/e also acknowledge the Government of NSW in providing a platform such as [be Multicultural Media Awards to showcase our talents and efforts".

Pawan Luthra added, "At ludi,111 Link, we like to call ourselves ' observers of the trends in Australi a's Indian community'. Our clear grasp of issues in the community for 20 years now has earned us much respecr not only within the community but in the mainstream as well. W/e pride ourse lves on our 9ualit:y of content, our design, as well as regularit)' of production. Our core team ()f 10 staff members, and some 70- odd contributors across the country, wo rkvery hard to see tha't a 9uality publication goes out every fortnight, even as we struggle with the drastic upheaval that our industry L~ going through".

The company produces two fortnightly publications fo r its Sydney audience, and momhlies for Me lbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. On th e airwaves, it brings audiences together through lndian Link Radio. This was laund1cd I J years ago on a 'pay-radio' forma t for listeners in Sydney and lvfelbourne only but is now acc essible 'row1d the world round the dock' via a downloadable smartphone app as well as online streaming. Online, the company's presence encompasses an imernctive website, fortnightly e-newslecters that reaches the ca rgeted audience directly, a busy Facebook page, and regular 'Twitter feeds.

The Indian Link .Media Group is no stranger to winning awards. just last year at the inaugural

INDIAN LINK

Premier's .Mul ticulnual l\1[edia Award 2013, lndia11 l.J11k also won three awards: Best News Report, Best Onlin e Pub lication of die Year and Best Image of the Year. ln addition to th.is, flldian Link also cook out t\vo awards ar tl1e 20 I 3 Parliament of NSW Mulcicu lmral Media Awards, three awards at the 2012 Parliament of NSW Multicultural Media and the 2011 NS\V Premier's Harmony Award. This multi- media group ju st rn.ight have to buy a new shelf to display all of the awards won.