Memoirs of a gay life visualises sexualit

New Delhi: There is now another voice in the open for the queer community. Friday saw the release of Sunil Gupta's book memories of a gay life, a collection of photographs depicting gay families and the life in the 70s when alternate sexuality was not an option.

These pictures have been taken over the years by this HIV positive photographer. “These are pictures of people and places I have some relation with. So they are my family and my friends and my lovers,” says Sunil Gupta.

“I think 5-6 years ago it would have been very difficult to have a book with gay in the title to be published by an Indian publisher and to be sold in Indian bookshops. Its amazing how much change has happened so quickly,” he adds.

There is gay parade marches held across the metros, a queer festival took place recently and the SC is debating article 377, which questions the legality of homosexuality. With so many changes taking place one wonders what is actually bringing this change.

“I think many more people have become more vocal and many more younger people are impatient and don’t want to wait for another 10 years, so I think the rate of change is greatly accelerated,” says Sunil Gupta.

It is going to introduce a whole new level of possibilities for people who are gays and making homosexuality legal is just the first step. After that is the whole area of housing, employment, marriage, children legalising and all those relationships,” he adds.

Memories of a gay life tries to use visuals to transform words like sexuality, sex, aids and diseases into images that try and make us rethink the way we perceive homosexuality.

At a time when efforts are being made to provide equal rights to the homosexuals, this comes as another effort in raising public awareness.

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