Blackmailers give gays, lesbians a hard time

<div class="section0"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:="">MUMBAI: It''s an unfortunate side-effect of the increasing visibility of gays and lesbians in Mumbai. According to gay activists, the last one month has seen over a dozen members of the community being mugged by blackmailers who threaten tomake their sexual preference public. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">However, victims, fearing social ostracism and the prospect of being charged under Section 377 (unnatural offences) of the IPC, have refrained from making police complaints.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">The blackmail brigade''s modus operandi is simple. It networks with gays through cruising sites or internet chat rooms andmobile phones, fixes meetings, and then extorts money. Some of the blackmailer-infested areas in the city are Churchgate station, Bandra Bandstand, Dadar railway station, Khar and Andheri station.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">A fortnight ago, Jitesh, a gay college youth, was badly bashed up and robbed of his wristwatch, mobile phone, CDplayer and wallet near the Gateway of India. “They took my college identity card and threatened to tell my teacher and parents about my sexuality. I lost a total of Rs 20,000,'''' says a petrified Jitesh.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">In another incident, Ganesh, a gay senior executive of a television channel, was mugged at Churchgate station. “I was waiting for the train, when two decentlooking boys suddenly grabbed me by the hand and started demanding money. They accused me of having sex with them,'''' says Ganesh.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">The charges were false, but to avoid public humiliation and the fear of being outed to his family, Ganesh handed over his wristwatch and Rs 500 to the hustlers.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">The Humsafar Trust, a gay support group, offers counselling and legal aid to traumatised victims at its inhouse crisis management cell. “In the last month, we received two rescue calls from victims,'''' says Abhijit, an outreach manager with the trust. “But when we ask victims to register a police complaint, they back out.''''</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">The NGO has for three years been conducting a sensitisation programme with the Mumbai police on problems faced by the sexually marginalised. “The police have been very sensitive and co-operative but the plague of blackmailers and hustlers still exists,'''' says Abhijit.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">When contacted, joint commissioner of police (crime) Dr Satyapal Singh says the police will taken stern action against extortionists. “We do not discriminate against gays and lesbians,'' he declares. “They too are citizens of the country, and we will protect them. All they have to do is register a complaint at the nearest police station.''''</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Says Joel, a victim of extortion, “In a country where homosexuality is outlawed, being gay or lesbian is as good as being an outcast. With no rights or recourse to justice, and with rampant sexual discrimination, gays go through depression, low self-esteem and even commit suicide.''''</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="" font-style:="" italic="">(Names of interviewees have been changed to protect identity.)</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">Helpline numbers</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Humsafar Trust : 26673800/266505</span><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Humjinsi : 23435700/</span><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Aanchal: 23522787</span></div> </div>