Entertainment
McKellen even made a statement with his T-shirt which said 'Some people are gay. Get over it.'
Updated : May 26, 2016, 01:19 PM IST
Hollywood star Ian McKellen says India is at a juncture where it needs to decide whether it wants to move towards equality or stuck in the past as far as protection of LGBT rights is concerned.
The Lord of the Rings actor, who is openly gay, was speaking at the inauguration of seventh 'Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival', which is India's only mainstream LGBT film fest.
Sir @IanMcKellen and @sonamakapoor inaugarte the 7th @KashishMIQFF together. #McKelleninIndia #Mumbai pic.twitter.com/DxpcoBSFGi
— BritishCouncil India (@inBritish) May 25, 2016
"It seems to me that India is at some crossroads or another. You have to decide whether you're going to be stuck in the colonial past or enter the modern world. Join the rest of us, who are simply prepared to accept that we are all born equal, be it the colour of our skin or hair," he said.
Sir @IanMcKellen addresses the enthusiastic crowd at Liberty Cinema. #McKelleninIndia #Mumbai pic.twitter.com/9hxhEDsH2B
— BritishCouncil India (@inBritish) May 25, 2016
"Whatever our sexuality, whatever our taste, we must all be treated equally. That is the world Nelson Mandela fought for. That is the future, I believe, Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of seeing," the veteran actor added.
McKellen, who was the chief guest at the ceremony, seemed to make a statement through his outfit too as he wore a T-shirt that read, "Some people are gay. Get over it."
Sir @IanMcKellen arrives at liberty cinema for the 7th @KashishMIQFF film festival. #McKelleninIndia @BritishCouncil pic.twitter.com/Fm3qd6VoSG
— BritishCouncil India (@inBritish) May 25, 2016
Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor also addressed the issue of homosexuality, saying discrimination on the basis of one's sexual preference is not right.
"I feel most of my fans, who follow me, are either women, gay men or lesbians. If they support me I support them too... Hopefully one day there are no labels and everybody is just a human being. It is about humanity and not gay, lesbian, transgender, transsexual or anything. It's just a person likes another person and they be who they want to be. I hope that day comes," she said.
Sir #IanMcKellen is delighted to celebrate his 77th birthday with the people of #Mumbai at the 7th @KashishMIQFF pic.twitter.com/Qwfc3DN6Yh
— BritishCouncil India (@inBritish) May 25, 2016