Mom places ad seeking groom for gay activist

In what appears to be a first in India, a woman has placed an advertisement in a tabloid for her son seeking an alliance for him with another man. 

The man for whom the matrimonial has been placed is Harish Iyer, a 36-year-old equal rights activist and cause crusader. The issue has sparked a debate in the social media with Navi Mumbai-resident Harish and his  58-year-old mother, Padma Iyer, receiving brickbats and bouquets.The ad placed in the tabloid read – “Seeking 25-40, Well-placed, Animal-loving, Vegetarian GROOM for my son (36, 5’11”) who works with an NGO, Caste No Bar (Though IYER preferred).”  At the end, an e-mail address and telephone number were given for interested parties to contact. The ad has already got some response.

As a matter of fact, before a tabloid published the ad, several newspapers had rejected it fearing legal complications.

The Delhi’s High Court had struck down the 148-year-old colonial  law banning homosexuality in 2009, but its ruling was overturned in 2013 by the Supreme Court with the apex court ruling that amending or repealing Section 377 of Indian Penal Code should be a matter left to Parliament, not the judiciary.

Harish Iyer aka Harrish Iyer aka Aham is an equal rights activist and is best known for his quirky campaigns for the rights of homosexuals, women, children and animals. Harish is one of the most vocal voices for the LGBT campaign worldwide and he is listed at No. 71 in the World Pride Power List 2013. He shares the honour with Stephen Fry, Ricky Martin, Elton John, Martina Navratilova, to name a few. He is the only Indian in the list. He had appeared in Aamir Khan’s “Satyamev Jayate” – and transformed his personal blog into a helpline during the 26/11 terror attacks.The part of the ad – which mentioned  that an Iyer would be preferred – earned criticism. The family later clarified that it was inserted as a tease.

Harish’s mother Padma, in an FB post said: “The IYER PREF was meant to be a tease. Though I should admit that it is typical that mothers wish their children should be married to families whose culture we know of. My sister is married to a Muslim. My second son is married to a non-vegetarian Maharashtrian. My niece is married to a Christian. All are treated equally. I would like to also share that I am not bothered about the caste or religion of his partner per se….”