Pune's lesbians come out of the closet, and into their own

Pune's lesbians come out of the closet, and into their own
ARINDAM GHATAK

PUNE, NOVEMBER 21: Most birthdays are special, and this one was especially so. The Organised Lesbian Alliance for Visibility and Acceptance (OLAVA), the first and only group for lesbian, bisexual and transgendered women in Pune, celebrated its first birthday on November 21. For members and guests at the function, the party line was simple ad direct: ``Come out, wherever you are.''

The organisation's name, explained Chatura, who hosted the party, translates into moist in Marathi. ``Olava suggests the warmth and tenderness two women are capable of sharing in a relationship. We opted for Marathi since we want our group to reach out to every section of society and not just the urban elite middle class.''

Over 100 women and some men from all over the country congregated in Pune at the party, also attended by around 20 women's organisations. Clearly, it was a joyous moment for all: a colourful OLAVA banner fluttered high, personal experiences were shared as were tears. Solidarity messages were emblazoned across the walls, among them a quote by American blues singer Janis Joplin: ``Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got.''

Oorja (name changed), said, ``We were baptised into existence by Deepa Mehta's film Fire. We realised that there were no organised groups in Pune, unlike other cities, who could protest against the vandalism that followed the film's release. That, apart from the need to create space and support networks for lesbian and bisexual women, spurred us on.''

When it was formed, OLAVA had only four members. Today, its membership has inched up to 15. It has helped two women who were on the verge of running away from home because their families and friends rejected them.

Chatura narrated her coming-out experience: ``In 1994, at a workshop in Pune, Manisha Gupte, the co-founder of the women's organisation MASUM, spoke about the pain and pleasure of alternate sexuality. I had never heard such a positive validation of ourselves. That was the first time I had the courage to tell myself that I was happy being a woman who loves other women.

``I called up Manisha that night. She told me, `be happy you have found yourself'. Since then, it's been a journey of reclaiming the dignity of that moment.''

Chatura's parents, who were present in the room, gave her the thumbs up sign after her little speech.

``Looking around the room, I can see several potential friends, new friends, straight people, gays, lesbians, feminists, happily married men and women with their children, and of course people from various religions. This amalgamation is a pointer towards a beautiful picture of a cosmos condensed into this small room. If only the world would take some tips from us,'' remarked Manisha Gupte.

Adding that it is a myth that homosexuality was an urban phenomenon, Gupte continued, ``I have been working with rural women for years. I have seen women rejoicing in their love for other women in villages and small towns, and not all of it is platonic. Invisibility and a quest for identity hampers them as much as it hampers us, and any one deviating from the norm is punished. The very fact that we can stand here and express ourselves today confirms that we have come a long way. But it is only the beginning.''

The participants also resolved to fight homophobia and the archaic Article 377 of the IPC, which states: Of Unnatural Offence: Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend for ten years and shall be liable to fine. And, perhaps, start helplines in the future.

Another guest, Gomti, perhaps spoke for all the participants when she said, ``We have a lot of fun too. I am sick of the media projecting us as distressed and neurotic minorities. Can we do away with this viewpoint once and for all?'' On that note, the celebrations continued into the night.