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Threats push LGBT parties back into the closet

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A file photo of last year’s ‘Rage’ party organised by Inder Vhatwar through Dkloset, an LGBT store
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They already have their New Year parties at undisclosed locations to avoid threats and vandalism, but the Supreme Court's December 2013 judgment criminalising homosexuality has pushed the LGBT community further into the closet. According to city-based party planners from the community, the number has gone down from seven to two this year, while the number of house parties has increased.

One of the two New Year parties in the city is being organised by Namrata Bajaj, who has been freelancing as an LGBT party planner for more than 5 years. Named 'The Jumping Jacks', the event expects to see more than 100 people at an undisclosed location in the suburbs. "The venue doesn't want unwanted attention drawn to it and we have had major difficulties for the last two years in finding venues. The SC ruling has hit us hard. Our parties have been threatened with vandalism and serious action by political parties, religious extremists and cops even though we have all permissions in place," said Bajaj, whose friends have cancelled their parties for the same reason. Bajaj has also been organising gossip parties and other theme-based parties but has shut them due to venue-related problems.

The reason for having a separate LGBT party is simple- no judging. Bajaj said that such spaces are important for people to be themselves, hold hands and dance together without being stared at. "Another reason is that other venues in the city have couple entries and can't really be called safe spaces for the LGBT crowd," she said.

Inder Vhatwar, who has been organising the 'Rage' party for the past 3 years through Dkloset, an LGBT store in the city, has shifted the venue to Goa this year. He was left without a venue just a few days before last year's New Year celebration as the restaurant had received threats from a political party. "We had all the required licenses in place with the venue, but they had to back out. We have had so many experiences where the venue has been raided before the party began. Cops have just one thought, its a gay party so there will be sex. The reason to have an LGBT party is because at other venues people laugh at you, stare, pass loud comments and judge you.

Would anyone else care about their body language on New Year's when they are out with loved ones and friends?" asked Inder, who has kept the theme as 'White' and is expecting around 300 people from all over India.

The community is accustomed to the bi-annual Dirty Talk events organised by Gaysi. "These days people get offended way too easily and its too stressful to organise such a party. We decided early on as a policy that we'll not get into the party scene. For queer women there are hardly any spaces available and they themselves don't come out. It's like a chicken and egg situation and I personally don't think there's a need for separate LGBT parties," said MJ, co-founder of Gaysi. However, she agreed that all types of parties should be held, and that today there are several options available, with LGBT parties being as expensive as any other party with exorbitant entry fee. "I am around queer people the whole year so I'll take a break. I'll probably go out for dinner with my family or friends," she said.

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