![]() To many Indians, the word gay is synonymous with being flamboyant and part of the fashion industry, mostly because some of the prominent "out" Indians, like Wendell Rodricks, just happen to be fashion designers. Portrayals of gay Indians in the mainstream media are often reduced to prancing caricatures of men who wave their hands and air kiss, as was depicted in the hit Bollywood film Dostana in 2008. ![]() Wainaina's coming out made me think of the lack of such public figures in India, where on Tuesday, the country's highest court, the Supreme Court, refused to review a plea filed against the ban on gay sex, which the same court issued just over a month ago. Early last week, celebrated Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina came out to the world when he posted an unpublished chapter from his acclaimed 2011 memoir One Day I Will Write About This Place online. Wainaina said he was prompted by the recent death of a young, gay friend and the increasing wave of anti-gay legislation throughout Africa.īut Wainana's declaration also begged another question: To what extent does the coming out of noted public figures propel awareness of gay rights in countries where they have been a divisive issue, such as the United States, and particularly in countries with repressive anti-gay laws?
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