Mumbai: The month of June is observed as the Pride Month where participants having various sexual orientations participate in parades, to express pride of their sexual identity. Bollywood and other regional films have time and again portrayed some inspiring and unique LGBTQ films that have widely impacted the audience. On the occasion of Pride Month this year from June 1 to June 30, let’s have a look at 6 of the best films that depicted homosexuality with pride!1. Subh Mangal Zyada Savdhan<img src="https://gumlet.assettype.com/dtnext%2F2022-06%2Fe09d5e6c-f51f-4d6e-8d68-9533a619c8df%2F1.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;format=webp&amp;w=768&amp;dpr=1.0">‘Subh Mangal Zyada Savdhan’ took us through the journey of two gay men Aman and Kartik, played seamlessly by Ayushman Khurrana and ‘Kota Factory’ fame Jitendra Kumar. The protagonists face numerous challenges from the orthodox society for being a same-sex couple. There is family opposition and important aspects like coming out for the first time which is shown beautifully in the movie. 2. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga <img src="https://gumlet.assettype.com/dtnext%2F2022-06%2F8685f4e5-ab0f-4ca3-84eb-5ff2230e4337%2F2.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;format=webp&amp;w=768&amp;dpr=1.0">This Sonam Kapoor starrer had Sweety belonging to a conservative Punjabi family who faces strong discontent and disapproval from her family members when Sweety confesses to her kin that she is into girls and does not want a groom. Troubles faced by couples in same-sex relationships are portrayed in the film. 3. Margarita With A Straw <img src="https://gumlet.assettype.com/dtnext%2F2022-06%2F2cda2a2d-19c8-43c8-a47e-4bd99c833e3f%2FdSf.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;format=webp&amp;w=768&amp;dpr=1.0">The film ‘Margarita With A Straw’ puts forward two important aspects- homosexuality and disability which often create certain obstacles in the lives of those affected. Kalki Koechlin has done a commendable job as Laila who suffers from cerebral palsy and someone who is still exploring her sexuality, eventually finding out that she is a lesbian. Discrimination in the society due to her disability and sexual orientation are the main highlights of the film 4. Awe <img src="https://gumlet.assettype.com/dtnext%2F2022-06%2F5a3bfb63-65ab-41e0-a0ce-03e61001a94f%2F4.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;format=webp&amp;w=768&amp;dpr=1.0">Telegu film ‘Awe’ portrays two women, played by notable South actors, Eesha Rebba and Nithya Menen who are lesbians. The complexity of the film lies in one of the characters seeking comfort in women and being attracted to them because of her history of sexual abuse. 5. Super Deluxe <img src="https://gumlet.assettype.com/dtnext%2F2022-06%2F2b80733a-2622-49e4-8ddb-d3eada841181%2Fvjs.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;format=webp&amp;w=768&amp;dpr=1.0">‘Super Deluxe’ touches upon the sensitive topic of transgenders. Popular Tamil actor Vijay Sethupathi undertakes the character of a transwoman Shilpa who tries to mend her relationships with her son and wife before she underwent her bodily transformation from a man into a woman. The concept of ‘acceptance’ and ‘love’ remains at the crux of the story. 6. Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish <img src="https://gumlet.assettype.com/dtnext%2F2022-06%2Fb66b753e-670c-414c-aa1b-5bf2fa87f29e%2F6.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&amp;format=webp&amp;w=768&amp;dpr=1.0">Iconic director Rituporno Ghosh’s ‘Chitrangada’ has indeed left a mark on the audience. This Bengali film depicts the life of Rudra, acted by Rituporno himself who desires to be a woman and experience womanhood. The strong message of the fight for gender identity in the film deserves a special mention, especially since Rituporno identifies himself as a third gender.—ANI

The month of June is observed as the Pride Month where participants having various sexual orientations participate in parades, to express pride of their sexual identity. Bollywood and other regional films have time and again portrayed some inspiring and unique LGBTQ films that have widely impacted the audience.

Pride Month special: 6 queer movies that address homophobia

New Delhi: The petitioners seeking legal validation of same-sex marriage on Wednesday urged the Supreme Court to use its plenary power, “prestige and moral authority” to push the society to acknowledge such a union which would ensure LGBTQIA persons lead a “dignified” life like heterosexuals.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud was told by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for one of the petitioners, that “the State should come forward and provide recognition to same-sex marriage.” He referred to the law on widow re-marriage, and said the society did accept it then and the “law acted with alacrity” and the social acceptance followed.

“Here, this court needs to push the society to acknowledge the same-sex marriage. This court, besides the power under Article 142 (which provides SC the plenary power to pass any order necessary for doing complete justice) of the Constitution, has moral authority and it enjoys public confidence. We rely on the prestige and moral authority of this court to ensure that we get our right,” Rohagti told the bench which also comprised Justices S K Kaul, S R Bhat, Hima Kohli and P S Narasimha.

He said, “the State should come forward and provide recognition to same-sex marriage... which will help us leading a dignified life like heterosexuals.” At the outset of second day’s proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, filed a fresh plea urging the top court that all the states and UTs be also made parties to the proceedings on the pleas.

In a fresh affidavit filed in the apex court, the Centre said it has issued a letter on April 18 to all the states inviting comments and views on the "seminal issue" raised in the pleas.

“It is, therefore, humbly requested that all states and Union Territories be made a party to the present proceedings and their respective stance be taken on record and in the alternative, allow the Union of India, to finish the consultative process with the states, obtains their views/apprehensions, compile the same and place it on record before this court, and only thereafter adjudicate on the present issue," the affidavit said.

"It is submitted that the Union of India, has issued a letter dated April 18, 2023 to all states inviting comments and views on the seminal issue raised in the present batch of petition," it said.

Opposing the fresh plea of the government, Rohatgi said the pleas challenged the Central law, the Special Marriage Act, and just because the subject is there in the concurrent list of the Constitution, states and UTs need not be issued the notices.

“You do not have to labour on this point,” the CJI said.

Coming back to the submissions, Rohatgi referred to the judgements, including the decriminalisation of consensual gay sex, and said “The court was revisiting something which has already been decided”.

“I am equal to heterosexual groups and it cannot be so that their sexual orientation is correct and all others are incorrect. I am saying let there be a positive affirmation...We should not be treated as lesser mortals and there will be full enjoyment of the right to life,” he said.

The hearing is continuing.

The top court on Tuesday made it clear that it will not go into personal laws governing marriages while deciding the pleas seeking legal validation for same-sex marriages and said the very notion of a man and a woman, as referred to in the Special Marriage Act, is not "an absolute based on genitals". The outcome will have significant ramifications for the country where common people and political parties hold divergent views on the subject.

The apex court had on November 25 last year sought the Centre's response to separate pleas moved by two gay couples seeking enforcement of their right to marry and a direction to the authorities concerned to register their marriages under the Special Marriage Act.

LGBTQIA stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual. - PTI

SC advised to use moral authority and plenary power to support same-sex marriages

SC urged to use plenary power, moral authority to ensure acceptance of same-sex marriages

Washington: US President Joe Biden on Monday slammed Uganda president Yoweri Museveni for signing a new anti-homosexuality law, and called it a "tragic violation of universal human rights". US President Biden also demanded for its immediate repeal. Biden said that no one should have to live in fear for life or being subjected to violence and discrimination. President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni has signed a new law which mandates a 20-year term for "promoting" homosexuality and also prescribes for death penalty for certain behaviour including engaging in gay sex when HIV positive. "The enactment of Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act is a tragic violation of universal human rights - one that is not worthy of the Ugandan people, and one that jeopardises the prospects of critical economic growth for the entire country. I join with people around the world - including many in Uganda - in calling for its immediate repeal. No one should have to live in constant fear for their life or being subjected to violence and discrimination. It is wrong," Biden said in an official statement. Biden also said that ever since the Anti-Homosexuality Act was introduced, reports of violence and discrimination targeting Ugandans who are or are perceived to be LGBTQI+ are increasing. The US president also said that this shameful Act is the latest development in Uganda's alarming human rights abuses and corruption trend. The dangers posed by this democratic backsliding are a threat to everyone residing in Uganda, including the US government personnel, the staff of our implementing partners, tourists, members of the business community and others. —ANI Biden also said that he has directed the US National Security Council to evaluate the implication of this law on all aspects of US engagement with Uganda, including our ability to safely deliver services under the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other forms of assistance and investments, according to an official statement of White House. Uganda's Speaker of Parliament Anita Among in a post Twitter on Monday said, "I now encourage the duty bearers under the law to execute the mandate bestowed upon them in the Anti-Homosexuality Act." "The People of Uganda have spoken, and it is your duty to now enforce the law in a fair, steadfast, and firm manner," she said. Same-sex relationships are prohibited in more than 30 African nations, including Uganda, but the new law goes considerably further in its discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) persons, as per Al Jazeera. The approval of the law comes despite opposition from Western governments, businesses, and human rights activists, Al Jazeera reported. The Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 was one of six pieces of legislation that Museveni's office confirmed the president signed into law on Sunday. (ANI)

 US President Joe Biden on Monday slammed Uganda president Yoweri Museveni for signing a new anti-homosexuality law

Biden Calls Uganda's Anti-LGBTQ Law 'Tragic Violation Of Human Rights'

New Delhi: Actor Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, who plays the love interest of Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s transgender character of Harika in crime drama ‘Haddi’, spoke about his role, and said that the basic idea was to communicate the concept of true love between people irrespective of gender.
Directed by Akshat Ajay Sharma, the film stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Anurag Kashyap, and Zeeshan in the lead. Nawaz plays the character of Haddi/Harika, while Zeeshan is seen as Irfan.
Talking to IANS, Zeeshan spoke on the mental and physical toll such characters take on the actors.&nbsp;
“I don’t think there is any such toll on you. Some things of the character remain with you. There is always a give and take. It's not a very intense but nice and tender character. And we had to achieve that softness. A tenderness should remain in their relationship,” he said.
“Romance should not be a special romance, it is just romance. Koi bhi kisi se bhi pyaar karta hoga, kisi bhi sex k person se, jo jiski preference ho, bas pyaar hai, pure hai. That was the basic idea and that should be communicated. So we worked around it,” shared the ‘Tandav’ fame actor.
Did he had any apprehensions regarding the role?
“There were no apprehensions, but it was an exciting part. It took time to say yes but it was for different reasons. It took around two months, there were date issues. Finally everything was resolved and it happened,” Zeeshan said.
Produced by Zee Studios along with Anandita Studios, the film stars Nawazuddin in a double role, one of which is transgender. It also stars Ila Arun, Saurabh Sachdeva, Rajesh Kumar and Ivanka Das in pivotal roles. It is streaming on Zee5.
On the work front, Zeeshan was last seen in ‘Scoop’ where he played the character of Imran Siddiqui. The show stars Karishma Tanna, Harman Baweja, and Prosenjit Chatterjee.&nbsp;
—IANS

Actor Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, who plays the love interest of Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s transgender character of Harika in crime drama ‘Haddi’

Zeeshan Ayyub on romance with Nawazuddin Siddiqui: 'It was pure'

Los Angeles: Ariana Grande, Gabrielle Union, and Guillermo del Toro are among 175 Hollywood personalities who have signed an open letter published denouncing the recent trend to ban books in schools across the USA.
The letter — backed by Reading Rainbow host LeVar Burton and MoveOn Political Action organisation — calls out the “restrictive behaviour” and “chilling effect” book bans have “on the broader creative field” and how they are “antithetical to free speech and expression,” reports People magazine.
“We cannot stress enough how these censorious efforts will not end with book bans,” the letter reads, as per The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s only a matter of time before regressive, suppressive ideologues will shift their focus toward other forms of art and entertainment, to further their attacks and efforts to scapegoat marginalised communities, particularly BIPOC and LGBTQ+ folks.”
As per People, the signatories concluded the letter by writing that they “refuse to remain silent as one creative field is subjected to oppressive bans” and that they will “band together, because a threat to one form of art is a threat to us all.”
“It’s embarrassing that we are banning books in this country, in this culture, in this day and age. And it’s dangerous that a handful of individuals are deciding that any book with Black and queer people is divisive,” Burton added. “We are calling on everyone to join us in raising their voices to uphold artistic freedom, embrace multicultural history and put a stop once and for all to book bans”.
—IANS

Ariana Grande, Gabrielle Union, and Guillermo del Toro are among 175 Hollywood personalities who have signed an open letter

Ariana Grande, Gabrielle Union, Guillermo del Toro denouncing book bans in US

Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has expressed dissatisfaction over the Uttar Pradesh government not framing guidelines as per the 2014 Supreme Court judgment that recognised transgender individuals as the ‘third gender’ and accorded them the right to self-identify as male, female, or third gender.  Justice Ajit Singh’s observations came during the hearing of a writ petition submitted by an unmarried woman constable in the Uttar Pradesh Police, seeking permission for sex reassignment surgery (SRS).  The petitioner claimed to be experiencing gender dysphoria and expressed a desire for SRS to align her physical appearance with her true male identity.  The state government counsel sought three months’ time to decide the application of the constable seeking SRS.  The court declined the request and directed: “In the circumstances, it is hereby directed that by the next date fixed (October 18) appropriate decision shall be taken on the pending application of the petitioner by the competent authority (state DGP).  “The court further records its dissatisfaction over the affairs at the level of state government for non-compliance of the Supreme Court judgment that was delivered on April 15, 2014, whereas, the Central Government has acted immediately upon the same by framing Act but the State has remained a passive spectator and has not taken any decision, it appears, till date.  “The manner in which the period of three months has been requested for seeking further time shows that the state is again adopting a very casual approach. No reason has been assigned as to why the state wants three months’ time to file an affidavit as was required by this court on August 18.”
—IANS

The Allahabad High Court has expressed dissatisfaction over the Uttar Pradesh government not framing guidelines as per the 2014 Supreme Court judgment

Allahabad HC asks UP govt to decide on sex change issue by Oct 18

Paris: Emmanuel Macron's selection of Gabriel Attal, the 34-year-old Education Minister, as France's latest prime minister marks a significant moment in the nation's political landscape. Here's a glimpse into five key facets of Attal's journey: Youthful Record: At 34, Attal becomes France's youngest post-war prime minister, surpassing Laurent Fabius, who held the record at 37 when appointed by Francois Mitterrand in 1984. Breaking Barriers: Attal is France's first openly gay prime minister, his public acknowledgment stemming from an outing by an old school acquaintance in 2018. His relationship with Stephane Sejourne, Macron's former political adviser, came to light during his junior minister tenure in Macron's first term. Political Trajectory: Attal's early foray into politics began at 17 when he joined the Socialist Party. His prominence surged during the pandemic as government spokesman. Progressing through roles in finance and education ministries since 2023, Attal earned accolades for his adeptness in Macron's cabinet and adept communication skills. Bold Actions: Notably, as education minister, Attal gained traction among conservative voters by initiating a ban on the Muslim abaya dress in state schools, a move that sparked both praise and controversy. Personal Narrative: Attal recently shared his past experiences of being bullied in middle school during a notable TV appearance. He recounted being shamed on a blog critiquing classmates' appearances during the early days of the Internet. Gabriel Attal's ascent to prime minister represents a blend of youth, courage, and a dynamic political journey that promises to shape France's leadership landscape.
—Input from Agencies

Gabriel Attal, France's youngest openly gay prime minister, appointed by Macron, marks a historic shift in French politics.

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Pride Month special: 6 queer movies that address homophobia

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Pride Month special: 6 queer movies that address homophobia

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