His friend Saleem Kidwai started to cultivate an underground social circle of gay men as part of a widespread but secret and ephemeral network across the city. Lingering around cruising sites in Delhi, Gupta began to take audio recordings of interviews with the men he met there. In documenting these men, Gupta also aimed to challenge other colonial legacies: the historic silence of art history on sexual dissidence outside the West, and the tradition of Western photographers speaking for Indian culture and people in the work they made. The men were often married, leading secret sexual lives under the punitive force of Section 377 that criminalised homosexuality, a law introduced during British rule in 1861 and only repealed by the Indian Supreme Court in 2018.
This was a subject not meant to be seen or spoken about. Gupta wanted to address gay life in his former home town, but “nobody wanted to talk about it, nobody wanted to be in any pictures”. In 1981, while studying photography at the Royal College of Art in London, he returned to India for the first time. Our partnership with SX will build on these services to provide support that is more directly tailored to the needs of local men.”Īnyone wanting to find out more about the project or access local services and support can contact Alastair Rose at or tel 07703 840970.Years earlier, in 1969, Gupta’s family had left Delhi for Montreal, where the teenager found himself in the midst of new outspoken Western conceptions of sexuality in Canada, he says, “I discovered that what I like to do was called “gay””. “Through Central Sexual Health we offer a range of services including confidential, convenient sexual health information and testing. NHS Forth Valley HIV Consultant, Dr Kirsty Abu-Rajab, added: “All of the evidence we have points to the continuing challenges facing gay and bisexual men, and tackling this remains a priority for the Health Board. “We’re excited to get started in Forth Valley and would encourage men who are interested in getting involved or accessing support to get in touch.” We won’t preach or judge, it’s about listening, understanding and giving men the confidence to live life their way. “SX gives guys a place within the community where they can come to talk about anything they’ve got going on in their lives. This can lead to issues around mental health and self-confidence that leave men open to making choices that may not be in the best interests of their health. “Discrimination is still a big issue that puts many guys off looking for support.
But there’s more to being a gay or bisexual man than just sex. “Sexual health’s a big part of what we do – talking positively about sex and healthy relationships, and helping guys reduce the risk of STIs.
Speaking at the launch, SX Manager, Alastair Rose said: “Scotland gets a lot of things right when it comes to LGBT issues but gay and bisexual men continue to face real health and social inequalities. These include higher rates of poor sexual health, depression and anxiety, alcohol or drug dependency and discrimination based on sexuality.
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The project will complement the work of the Health Board’s Central Sexual Health service, promoting access to regular STI testing and free condoms, and offering training to professionals about the health and wellbeing needs of the community.Īcross Scotland, gay and bisexual men face a range of health and social inequalities that affect their health and wellbeing. The team will also offer one-to-one support to men in the community, including men who are living with HIV, addressing a range of challenges that impact on men’s health and wellbeing. A new project has been unveiled in Forth Valley which aims to challenge the health inequalities facing gay and bisexual men.ĭelivered by Waverley Care, Scotland’s HIV and Hepatitis C charity, the SX project will work to improve the sexual health and wellbeing of men living across Forth Valleyįunded by NHS Forth Valley, the project will work closely with the local community, recruiting volunteers to develop and deliver campaigns that promote good sexual health.