Hyderabad: Homosexual community in the city is slowly emerging out of the closet and asserting its rights and sharing its angst, albeit in the virtual world. A small group of city-based gay and lesbian men and women have come up with a website called www.prathibimb.com, which asserts their pride in being a homosexual.
The website which came up on February 14, as a symbolic venture to claim gay rights on Valentine’s Day, is gaining popularity among members of the community who were looking for a gay/lesbian solidarity site.
The group which has around 10 members, a bunch of youngsters who are either studying or working, is now busy charting meetings and programmes to spread the word about the website.
One of the founder members of the website and a research scholar of English and Foreign Languages University (Eflu), Andy Silveira said that the group was formed to “create a space for the gay community in Hyderabad where they could express their thoughts on sexuality”.
“The homosexual community in other metros like Mumbai are visible whereas in Hyderabad, the community restricts itself to homes and other private spaces. We wanted the community in the city and the state of Andhra Pradesh to share experiences and thoughts with others,” said Silveira.
The website has poems, essays and memoirs penned by the gay and lesbian community members.
