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Lesbian awareness gains ground in rural Bengal: Asian Age
Kolkata, June 15: Moral policing may have made in-roads in West Bengal, but it has failed to curb the movement for lesbian rights that has slowly taken roots not only in the capital Kolkata but also in the rural milieu.
Kolkata, June 15: Moral policing may have made in-roads in West Bengal, but it has failed to curb the movement for lesbian rights that has slowly taken roots not only in the capital Kolkata but also in the rural milieu.
Spokesperson of Sappho, an organisation campaigning for lesbian rights in the city, Malabika, says that in the last few months they have received over 150-200 calls from girls in small towns or rural areas seeking membership. "It is true that a new form of Talibanism, an authoritative attitude that seeks to subjugate women, is on the rise in the state. A few days ago a woman was tonsured for allegedly having an extra marital affair. Despite this trend, more and more women are now increasingly accepting their sexuality and opening up to seek counsel," she said. When Sappho was established, in June 1999 such calls were rare. Members were asked : "What do lesbians look like?" or "Are lesbians mental patients?" Three years down the line, their telephone rings far to often.
Take the case of Nita and Asha (names changed on request), both of whom hail from a small town in Midnapur. Nita was married when she was 24. Soon after her marriage she realised that her husband was an alcoholic and wife beater. "I was never attracted towards him," Nita said. While living in misery, Nita, managed to sit for some government examinations. "During this entire phase Asha helped me. Once I got this job, I left my husband and started to share a room with Asha. It was then I realised that what I felt for her was was love," Nita said.
Spokesperson of Sappho, an organisation campaigning for lesbian rights in the city, Malabika, says that in the last few months they have received over 150-200 calls from girls in small towns or rural areas seeking membership. "It is true that a new form of Talibanism, an authoritative attitude that seeks to subjugate women, is on the rise in the state. A few days ago a woman was tonsured for allegedly having an extra marital affair. Despite this trend, more and more women are now increasingly accepting their sexuality and opening up to seek counsel," she said. When Sappho was established, in June 1999 such calls were rare. Members were asked : "What do lesbians look like?" or "Are lesbians mental patients?" Three years down the line, their telephone rings far to often.
Take the case of Nita and Asha (names changed on request), both of whom hail from a small town in Midnapur. Nita was married when she was 24. Soon after her marriage she realised that her husband was an alcoholic and wife beater. "I was never attracted towards him," Nita said. While living in misery, Nita, managed to sit for some government examinations. "During this entire phase Asha helped me. Once I got this job, I left my husband and started to share a room with Asha. It was then I realised that what I felt for her was was love," Nita said.