Gay Arranged Marriages On the Rise In India

[Recursion]

http://www.out.com/art-books/2016/2/17/gay-arranged-marriages-are-rise-india

Like most "trend" pieces, this refuses to quantify what "on the rise" actually means. Still kind of interesting.

The last decade brought a strong and sudden upswing in so-called “love marriages” (individuals selecting their own partners), and the astronomical rise in social media among India’s millennials has also led to the inevitable rise in dating app usage. While this starkly contrasts with the previous generation’s staunch commitment to arranged coupling, the dust seems to be settling in a compromise between the two: Parents play a crucial part in the spousal search, but ultimately seek the approval of their child before moving forward with a relationship.

Both Iyer and Shahani, however, note that the biggest philosophical gaps to fill when it comes to modern love are actually between urban and rural Indians, and not the different generations. “My parents have been rather accepting,” says Shahani. “When I came out to my mom some years ago, her response was ‘That’s OK, but what should we have for dinner?’ ”

“Our urban parents are exposed to international news and entertainment — this has made it more comfortable for them to take the first step and be willing to be a part of the conversation,” explains Iyer. “It’s rural India that doggedly holds on to outdated notions and practices, and cloisters and suffocates individuals coming to terms with their sexuality in traditional communities.”

The very urban Mumbai has been the backdrop of Iyer’s love story — a city full of people “too busy to take the time to discriminate,” he says. “We have gay parties, we have parents and family meetups, and we have our own gay pride called Queer Azaadi Mumbai. Here, there are many who are out and about, despite the law being a spoilsport.”

[Behind the Aegis]

1. I must say that is different!

Odd.