Indian mother defies tradition, and law, as she advertises for groom for her son

Mother of gay rights activist is going the traditional route in finding a life partner for her son

In India, homosexuality is illegal. It is also frowned upon in most of the country. But that didn't stop a mother from placing a matrimonial ad requesting a groom for her son in an Indian newspaper.

The advertisement, which was published in Tuesday's edition of Indian tabloid Mid-Day newspaper, is the first ever homosexual advertisement to appear in any Indian newspaper.



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The son in question is 36-year-old gay rights activist Harish Iyer, who told The Guardian how proud he was of his mother. “I’m proud of her. It was her idea. My mum was like: ‘You don’t have a boyfriend, you’re not so young.’ She was concerned for her ageing son like any Indian mum would be, irrespective of whether he is homosexual or heterosexual,”

Harish further informed The Guardian that three other newspapers had refused to carry the advertisement on the grounds that it was illegal.

The Guardian also interviewed Sachin Kalbag, executive editor of the Mumbai daily Mid-Day, who said that there was no reason to not publish the ad, “Normally if there is a problem with an ad, then the department will come to me. It raised no eyebrows at all. We are pro-equal rights and have been running vociferous campaigns against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.”

The Indian Supreme Court had de-criminalised homosexuality in 2009, but later reversed its decision and declared it illegal in 2013.

A magazine dedicated to the homosexual community, Gay Star News, reported that at last count Harish's mother had received three positive responses to her advertisement.