Homosexuality may still be a taboo and same-sex marriages illegal in India, but that didn't deter a mother, Padma Iyer from searching for a groom for her son, Harrish Iyer. It would not be farfetched to claim that her attempt would come across as a historical move in contemporary India.
Padma Iyer, from Mumbai placed a matrimonial advert in Mumbai's Mid-Day newspaper, searching for a groom for her son. This is the first gay matrimonial advert in India. She had previous approached three prominent newspapers before approaching Mid-Day. However, she was turned down as they believed publishing this advert could get them into legal trouble.
Harrish Iyer is a conspicuous and well-known LGBT (Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender) activist. He understands that like another other mother, his mother is also concerned about his wedding prospects, hence, the decision of placing the advert in the newspaper. He stated, “It was an innocent attempt by a mother to find a partner for her son. She did what any other would have done. I do not understand the controversy over this advert.”
He further states, “She is going through the proposals, she will draw a shortlist and tell me who to meet. I am looking forward to meet them. I am hoping to find a partner now.”
Padma Iyer has caused a controversy as many people in India still consider homosexuality as a crime, even with the law ruling homosexual acts as criminalised offences.
There have also been religious groups who protest against LGBT as they sternly claim that homosexuality is “against Indian culture.”
Furthermore, Padma Iyer has received some criticism for stating that she would prefer a groom from the Iyer caste- an upper-class Brahmin community from South India. However, defending his mother, Harrish Iyer clarified, “Like most people my mother thought that a person from familiar surroundings would be better. But look at the ad, it says 'caste no bar'. Our family is multicultural. My mother's sister is married to a Muslim.”
A Delhi-based activist, Monish Kabir Malhotra supports Iyer and the advert. He said, “It's Mr Iyer's right to place an ad in newspapers... He placed an advert for a partner and it's perfectly normal. I understand that same-sex marriages are illegal in India, but then it's also a reality that thousands of LGBT people live in India. Are we going to pretend that gay people don't exist or kill them all?”
However, another activist, Anindya Hajra from Calcutta argues that this advert does not do much, nor reflect the gay community in India. “He [Harrish Iyer] lives in a big city and is a well-known activist and can afford such an advert. But LGBT people living in other towns and cities cannot think about it.”
