Fridae

Lesbian organisations from around the world will converge in Mumbai, India this week for a gay film festival that will highlight the issues and problems they face globally. The festival will be held at Mumbai's well-known National College.

Organisers, "Humjinsi," say the 3-day festival which runs from Friday to Monday will showcase works from Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and other parts of the world.

"We are creating a package of films and videos around the theme of sexual and gender minorities," said Chatura, one of the organisers.

As homosexuality is banned in India, organisers hope the campaign will highlight the gender and sexuality problems among lesbians in India and aid the movement toward gay rights in India.

"Any two people caught in the act of lesbianism or homosexuality are liable to be punished under section 377 of Indian Penal code," well-known lesbian activist Geeta Kumana told Agence France-Presse.

"[It] will help to complement the already existing and ongoing work within the sexuality and gender minority movement at the grassroots level in India," said Chatura. "We look at it as a political tool to generate more visibility, facilitate a public discourse, and celebrate our various existences."

She said the screening of films will be supported by discussion forums and readings.
Organisers say the festival is a non-profit event which makes it difficult for them to pay screening fees to filmmakers. "Our funds enable us only to manage the infrastructure and administrative costs for conducting the festival," said Chatura.

Currently, the Indian government and a few gay organisations are locked in intense legal tussles, with equal rights activists demanding the right to choose their sexual partners and the government proclaiming same-sex relations are against the country's culture.