Grindr and similar apps are great for helping gay guys meet while maintaining discretion. However, this has led to a rise in blackmail scams targeting gay guys. They arrange to meet you, and once in a compromising position, someone else busts in to take a photograph. Threats of turning photos over to the police ensue. It’s two-on-one and they’ve got the pics. You either pay or get arrested.
Like holding hands in public. Straight male friends often do this as a sign of closeness and friendship. But two gay guys would never risk it, for fear of the possibly violent reprisals.
If either guy is less than absolutely masculine, it doesn’t matter how discreet you are in public, locals will still stare, heckle, and make you very uncomfortable.
It’s a big deal to come out in India, clearly. A lot of families react by simply forcing their son to get married.
There’s a good chance they won’t mention it until after the fact. If they do, they may not understand why you have a problem with it, which is a really sad example of the state of affairs for gay people in India. And no, I’m not talking about the bisexual guys who are married.
In India, transwomen (male to female) are known as hirjas. They are treated as less than second-class citizens who seek out a living by begging on streets and on public transportation. Yet, they are also considered touched by the gods and are often invited to bless newborns — though this doesn’t mean that they get treated any better because of it.
Which says pretty much all you need to know about the general treatment of women in India. 