American artist Miles Patrick's Indian adventure took a wrong turn last month.

The fifty-five year old, who moved to tourist town Mahabalipuram, known for its famous temples, back in 1998. Things went swimmingly for many years until Patrick reportedly started "seducing" local fishermen, a move that garnered him a five-year jail sentence:

Magistrate of Tirukazhukundram court pronounced the sentence on July 27 after finding Miles Patrick, a resident of New York, guilty of inducing young fishermen into homosexuality by showing pornographic films and giving narcotics.

The court sentenced Srinivasan, a local associate of Patrick, to three-year rigorous imprisonment for aiding and abetting him in his acts.

The two were arrested by the Mahablipuram police last year on a complaint from 25-year old local fisherman Desamuthu.

Though India's urban citizens have become more accepting in recent years, same-sex loving remains illegal thanks to the colonial era law, Section 377.

The Indian town of Mehsana's got a bit of queer problem: there are far more men than women. And, according to the Times of India, many of Mehsana's sexually and socially frustrated men are taking to the boys:

The 2001 census ranked Mehsana as the district with the worst skewed sex ratio of just 801 women per 1000 men. The after effects are being seen now, with the north Gujarat town witnessing a marked increase in gay activity.

All thanks to the dearth of eligible brides because of rampant foeticide over the years. Trends show that many affluent Mehsana men in their 30s are now wining and dining gays from Ahmedabad.
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"While homosexuality is increasing everywhere, in the case of Mehsana the skewed sex ratio could be fuelling this trend further," says sociologist Gaurang Jani.

This spike in gay sex is, of course, being blamed for an increase in sexually transmitted diseases. Clever.

Meanwhile, we're not sure we buy this "pragmatic gay" argument. It's not like sexually frustrated homos start searching for snatch. Well, unless we're really horny. And drunk.

India's gays made quite a statement this weekend. Though homos have previously put on pride parades in Calcutta, the festivities stretched across the nation in the biggest gay outing in India's history this weekend:

Waving rainbow flags and chanting "Gay India does exist," nearly 1,000 gay activists and their supporters marched in coordinated parades in three Indian cities Sunday, demonstrating their growing confidence and hope for change on a subcontinent where homosexuality is illegal.

Activists in New Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata called the parades the largest display of gay pride in India's modern history. They said the public rallies would have been impossible just a decade ago in this largely conservative nation, where marriage is seen as an important societal duty.

Most of the marchers came out to oppose Section 377, the colonial era law prohibiting gay activities. While most political leaders oppose opening the laws for the lavender set, none actively protested this weekend's happenings, saying they didn't want to give the gays too much attention. Ain't that grand?

Gay pride's slowly but surely spreading across India, where homosexuality remains illegal. Previous marches have been contained to Calcutta, but activists announced they're branching out and proud to protest the discriminatory laws:

The marchers plan to sing, give speeches and hold candlelit vigils in simultaneous parades in New Delhi, Calcutta and Bangalore on Sunday, said Gautam Bhan, a writer and gay rights activist involved with organizing the marches.
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"The conversation has been growing. Over the last few years there has been a steady rise in organizing around gay issues," Bhan said.

But he said there was still much work to be done.

"Pride in India is at a stage where it's not just pure celebration, it's always part protest. A reminder of how difficult things are," he said.

We'd say that all pride celebrations are a sign of protest, although it's certainly overdue in India - their sodomy laws date back to British colonialism.

Indian police may have a gay panic case on their hands.

Coppers arrested 18-year old Kalpesh Patel this week for the murder of 35-year old Mohan Patel, with whom he has no familial relation. Kalpesh admitted to killing the older man, but claims he was simply defending himself from Mohan's sexual advances:

On Monday night, Mohan asked him to accompany him to the Natraj theatre for some work. On finding a deserted place, Mohan asked him to have a homosexual relationship with him. On his refusal, Mohan threatened to kill him and even slapped and punched and later tried to rip his clothes. On finding no way to escape, Kalpesh took a stone lying on the ground and inflicted repeated wounds on Mohan's head before escaping from the spot. Mahidharpura police inspector A R Desai said, "We have arrested Kalpesh. This teenage boy was forced to have a homosexual relationship with Mohan, who stays with his wife and children and works in the diamond firm in Katargam. During investigation we talked to some of the employees of Khodiar Krupa diamond firm and his friends and learnt that Mohan was into homosexual relationship with several [other] people."

We can't say whether or not young Patel's telling the truth - we're not psychic - but it would be a great motive: Indian law continues to marginalize the gays, a legal leftover from the colonial days.

George Lee Clark sure is a go-getter. The anti-gay activist and self-proclaimed "Soldier of Christ" will embark on an international tour to decry the sins of homosexuality. This trip, which ends in Iran, includes a sit down with Sonia Ghandi, wife of slain PM Rajiv Gandhi and president of the Indian National Congress.

Currently George is visiting several countries to promote gay ban legislation, He will be meeting The Pope at the Vatican and getting his blessings for his International tour. He will be visiting India, Pakistan, China and Iran. In India he will be meeting Ms. Sonia Gandhi and Indian Prime Minister and Law minister and Supreme Court Judges. He will give his formal support for Indian Penal code 377 and request them not to repeal the law.

The press release also labels Clark a "controversial actor," which implies he's well known, but we've never heard of him.

A quick look at IMDB turns up a few unnotable credits, including a film called Blood Mountain, which is categorized as a horror flick. He's also credited in a movie called Black Men Can Swim. Both films are written and directed by American Indian filmmaker Parthiban Shanmugam, who also made a documentary about Clark. So, basically, this is some sort of faux-celebrity circle jerk.

Also, how in good God is this man getting face time with the Pope? We call bullshit.

Indian actor Siddharth Suryanarayan (pictured, looking angelic) doesn't have a problem playing gay in an upcoming flick. In fact, he doesn't have a problem with gays - period. He does, however, wag an adorable finger at his country's love of colonial era homophobia:

I think we are a homophobic country and I believe the media's insensitive sensationalisation of the issue is largely responsible for this.

As an actor I play roles based on reality. Sexual orientation is a natural and personal choice. I see no reason for it to affect my decision to accept a project.

I have close friends who are gay, and they are as intelligent and caring as, if not more than, my heterosexual friends. I think it's time we started respecting them and giving them their much-deserved freedom to just be themselves.

Siddharth, you can respect us any day! And by "respect," we mean kiss, smooch and all that jazz. Or is it jizz?

Indian officials struggle to strike a balance in their ever-changing cultural landscape. While colonial-era anti-gay laws remain on the books, gay men and women (mostly men) are beginning to emerge from the taboo-filled shadows. Their place in the light, however, remains capricious. Take, for example, a shake-down that went down this weekend. Six people were detained after coppers picked up the scent of a gay-filled fiesta.

24-year old Sahil Bhoricha and his friends rented a bungalow in the Yeoor Hills and planned to have a party. In an effort to boost attendance, Bhoricha and company sent out text messages, emails and placed an advert on the internet. Cops caught wind of the event and formulated an elaborate plan to close down the queer event.

Based on information from nearby residents, the police swung into action by inspecting vehicles at a checkpost on the road leading to Yeoor. A person transporting a music system to the venue was intercepted. Subsequently, he led them to the place where Sahil and four others were present.

According to API Madhukar Kumbhar, Sahil claimed it was his birthday party and that he had invited his friends over. The bungalow had been hired for Rs 6,000. "We found that it was not his birthday and neither was he able to give a satisfactory explanation for organising the party," said Kumbhar.

A search revealed that the group had stocked up on snacks, cold drinks and condoms; the liquor was found hidden outside the house in a nearby bush. All six persons, including a watchman, were taken into custody, but subsequently released. Police had sought to book and arrest the group for possession of liquor without a permit, but a magistrate denied them custody.

Gay activist Ashok Row Kavi questioned the coppers' reasoning:

There's something objectionable in the way the police—instead of going after terrorists and thieves—are going after innocent people. What's the big deal? These boys were all adults and were taking a crate of beer to a party in a private place. It's unfair that you barge in. Besides, carrying condoms isn't a sin.

Apparently authorities didn't agree - not initially, at least. Perhaps the magistrate's decision will send a message to police: fight actual crime, not things which should no longer be considering as such…