A Navi Mumbai-based south Indian woman has created a sensation in social media by putting out a first-of-its-kind gay matrimonial advertisement in a leading Mumbai afternoon newspaper, seeking a groom for her 36-year-old son Harish Iyer, an equal rights activist.
In her enthusiasm to find a suitable male match for her gay son, 58-year-old mother Padma Iyer on Tuesday placed an advertisement in Mumbai’s tabloid Mid-day that read: – “Seeking 25-40, Well-placed, Animal-loving, Vegetarian GROOM for my son +(36, 5’11”) who works with an NGO, Caste No Bar (Though IYER preferred).” Interestingly enough, the ad carries the gmail id and telephone number of the mother seeking groom for her son.
Unmindful of the legal issues that the advertisement has triggered and the brickbats that he and his mother have been receiving on the social media for the bizarre ad, Harish has gone to town saying that he has already received six responses from boys for the ad—two from aspiring grooms from Iyer families, two from Muslim families and a couple of other castes.
Padma Iyer’s matrimonial ad for her gay son, which was initially turned down by a couple of leading national newspapers, should be seen in the light of the fact that the Delhi High Court had struck down the 148-year old colonial law banning homosexuality in 2009, but its ruling was overturned in 2013 by the Supreme Court. On its part, the apex court had ruled that amending or repealing Section 377 of Indian Penal Code should be a matter left to Parliament, not the judiciary.
An equal rights activist, Harish Iyer aka Harrish Iyer aka Aham is known for his unconventional campaigns for the rights of homosexuals, women, children and animals. His life and experiences have provided material for a book and two films.
Harish, who is one of the most vocal voices for the lGBT campaign worldwide, is listed at no. 71 in the World Pride Power list 2013. He shares the honour among others with Ricky Martin, Stephen Fry, Elton John and Martina Navratilova.
Harish had appeared in Aamir Khan’s Satyamev Jayate. He had converted his personal blog into a helpline during the 26/11 terror attacks.
Defending his decision to seek an arranged marriage with a male, Harish tweeted on Wednesday: “1. It is not illegal to be gay 2. It is not illegal to look for a gay partner 3. Gay marriage doesn’t have legal sanction, but is not illegal”.
Alluding to the refusal of the publication of the matrimonial ad that his mother wanted to out, Harish tweeted: “Proud of the journos of TOI Ht and DNA who have stood up for equal lgbt rights. But I will call the press out for their ad discrimination”
“Of all things that some intelligent nondiscriminatory lGBT Indians stand for - respect for elders isnt one,” he wrote another post. Upon a request by her son Harish, Padma Iyer uploaded a post on her Facebook page in the evening that read: “Since Harish has asked me to clear my stand and I am posting this. I would not care to justify otherwise. Mothers of gay people are not saints, they can have their prejudices like most mothers and most humans.
“The IYER PREF was meant to be a tease. Though I should admit that is typical that mothers wish their children should be married to families whose culture we know of,” she wrote.
“My sister is married to a Muslim. My second son is married to a non veg eating Maharashtrian. My niece is married to a Christian. All are treated equally. I would like to also share that I am not bothered about the caste or religion of his partner per se. It would be nice if he makes his choice soon given that he has a huge list of things that he will not tolerate in his partner,” Padma Iyer went onto add in her FB post.