How gay are Bhutanese gays?
19 December 2008
Article 213 in Chapter 14 of the Penal Code of Bhutan states, “A defendant shall be guilty of the offence of unnatural sex, if the defendant engages in sodomy or any other sexual conduct that is against the order of nature” Does unnatural sex, which is graded as a petty misdemeanour, include homosexuality? How rife is homosexuality in Bhutan? Observer’s PHUNTSHO WANGMO delves into these questions and more.
Bhutanese gays
Homosexuality is still a taboo topic in modern Bhutan. Whenever there is talk of the subject most people ask, “Are there gays in Bhutan?”
Many Bhutanese people still have shocked expressions on their faces when there are any discussions about homosexuality. But more shocking is that even the educated are ignorant about the fact that there is a gay population in Bhutan.
Letro is a young man with a normal career and friends. He has the same interests as any young man. But he is exclusively gay. And, since it is not accepted in society he is secretive about his sexual orientation. “Bhutanese society thinks of it as abnormal behaviour” he said. According to him, there are gays in Thimphu, ranging from the young to the old and the married.
“My friends told me I was stupid for talking openly with the media” said Letro. “They don’t want to come out in the open because they are afraid that they might lose their family and friends” he added.
Most of the gays Letro knew refused to even give comments for fear of being identified if their identity was not kept secret, despite promises that their names would not be revealed.
According to a legal expert, the term “unnatural” sex, as mentioned in the Penal Code of Bhutan, has not been defined yet. Most people are confused about what exactly falls under the term.
Internet sites mention Bhutan as a country where there is a law against homosexuals with imprisonment ranging from a month to a year. But because there is no precise information on this subject, there are diverse reports that confuse and mislead.
But legal experts say there have been no cases of homosexuals being imprisoned in Bhutan to date. Even Letro was hesitant to talk at first because he thought that homosexuality was punished in Bhutan.
According to science, sexual orientation (including homosexuality and bisexuality) is the result of a combination of environmental, emotional, hormonal, and biological factors. Also, being homosexual or bisexual does not mean the person is mentally ill or abnormal in some way.
In most societies, people who are against homosexuality often call it “unnatural”. But homosexual behaviour exists even among animals.
The Oslo Natural History Museum also had an exhibition in 2006 on homosexuality among animals entitled “Against Nature?” It said that homosexuality has been observed among 1,500 species, and that the behaviour has been well documented in 500 of those species.
Homosexuality may be termed “unnatural” but, to gays, it is normal. According to a psychiatrist at the national referral hospital in Thimphu, Dr. Damber Kumar Nirola, no homosexual has ever come to the hospital to consult or seek counselling. There was only one case of a man from Paro with Gender Identity Disorder who did come for counselling.
Gender Identity Disorder is a disorder in which one experiences discomfort with one’s own sex and desires to live as a member of the opposite sex. Homosexuals, on the other hand, nearly always identify with their own sex.
“It is an individual’s choice. We have to respect their rights. As long as they do not victimise anybody,” said Dr. Nirola. According to him, sometimes people become homosexuals because of circumstances. It does not mean that they are abnormal.
Male homosexuality has been known to exist in certain restricted environments such as monk dormitories and army barracks.
Like most younger people today, Deki, a young working woman, feels homosexuality is acceptable.
“People should not make fun or pass comments at gays. Times have changed and society should accept them as even they have the right to live their life the way they want to,” she said.
As for Letro, he has plans of settling abroad where he can live openly with the fact that he is a homosexual instead of having to pretend that he is heterosexual, which is what he must do here in Bhutan.
Gay marriages – the politically correct term being “same sex unions” – have been legalised in such countries as South Africa, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, and Spain. As for Bhutan, gaydom is still a shadowy realm found in chat rooms and gay websites.
Till the time Bhutanese society accepts and respects gays in our society, gays will always remain silent and secretive. And people will continue to ask over and over again, “Are there gays in Bhutan?”
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this type article is something which bhutanese people should be reading because its very important to spread this awareness that “homeosexualities” are also human being who should be respected…….in this modern educated people shouldn’t be ignorant of such issues and we all people must know that gays are also two people who are in love which is made by god…….so join hands and let them feel free to come in light to expose themselves…..just remeber they are also human!!!
Same for those who practice such a disgraceful and curseful thing. Even animal knows their practice of sex in a God given manner and time. But human……..Oh my God! what a same… They consider themselves greater and wiser than any four feeted animal is turning wild on themselves. Same on you people……!!!
Let the said regulation be strictly applied on such fallen animals by name of human beings.
Sexual orientation is matter of individual’s choice and rights. With our country gearing towards vibrant democracy, i think homosexuality has to be accepted and even the article of the Penal Code has to be reveived.
my ass is my own and it is up to me what I do with it just as my mind is my own and I can think whatever I want. So if i want it harassed it’s by business.
There is no reason to blow the issue of being into the backside out ta proportion. Our monastic body, by virtue of living together with the same sex for a long time, are known to bang each other’s thighs and backsides. And they are pretty open about it. Students of Sherubtse college will remember senior language lecturers relating their rear door experiences during class. No hang ups and nothing taboo about it.
come on guys….its a human right…..if people have right to sleep in a way that they wants why not they have a right to sleep with the one that wants…be it king kong or ping pong…i respect humanity and value their feelings…and the feelings of those people are innocent all that matters to them is being together and sharing a good sum of time…its pain in their ass….so let them do what they wants….and the law should not be against it until and unless GAY couples robe or do some crime, rather law should be under human discipline and if that does not work that their should be another law made for the lawyers and law that is against human rights……love you all gays…don’t worry be happy….and make sure you guys invite me during your marriage parties….
Bhutanese gays……. chillies…….. all the best. Make sure you have a jar of icy water by your bed side before you go on to dig eachothers chilliholes. AAAtshawai. Help these gays.
If Bhutan wants to represent GNH to the world, then the laws must include rights for Gay people to be legal. Happiness is based on being given the Freedom to be yourself and Happiness is developed by looking after others. Being Gay is as natural as being straight. It’s not a choice. Just as being straight is not a choice anybody makes at some time. The only choice is whether you accept yourself as you are.
And consider too, that the laws of Bhutan are based on the old laws of England that were applied to India several hundred years ago. Even England has now revised their laws on Homosexuality and it’s time Bhutan did the same.
Sexual Misconduct as defined by Buddhism, is any sexual act that disrespects and demeans one of the partners in the act. So any man who has sex with a woman to satisfy his won pleasure, with no concern for her pleasure or comfort, is committing sexual misconduct. And if you want to define what unnatural sex is, you’ll first have to define sex. Is it only for to be used to create children, or is it a physical union and communication between two people that should be based in love and respect for each other?
Bhutan has a gay population. What remains to be seen is whether they will have to fight for the right to be themselves, just as gay people have had to do around the world, or whether Bhutan will set another example to the world in being the first country in the world, which will support and celebrate the diversity among their people, not matter who they are.
Thank you Phuntsho and Letro for your courage!
I dont think one should bother about other business. those who like to do let them do coz they have their own right
kool…. its high time that this thing has to come up….making people aware of such thing is very necessary…. so keep up the good work….
geela, is that what gay ppl really do? Then I am afraid that Bhutanese Ama Datshi is not fit for this.
Marriage between two opposite sex and producing a new human being is a maracle. This I guess is the fundamental definition of marriage.
Homosexuality is abserved in some animals but this does not mean that it is natural and human beings should adopt it. A dog can have sex with his own mother. Will you take this as natural and adopt this act?
There may be a time where dogs are better than human beings.
I have observed Mardigra in Sydney. It is an exclusive celebration of Gay and Lesbianism. It is partaken even by children. Almost all the townspeople watch their colourful march through the streets with joy.
I was surprised to find so many Indian Hig Ras also wearing colourful dresses and marching. I falsely claimed to be a gay to some lesbians and they were eager to introduce me to some prospective partners.
I hope Bhutan can suppress this issue for as long as possible, because our morality will not find it palatable for the next 100 years.
wel,
First of all i would like to thank my friend Phuntsho for helping me for making our people aware of it.
Wel Phuntsho if you are going through this comment ,you must have come to know that THERE ARE suckers who bullshit,Like Dawa …but i don’t blame him either but Dawa what if you found yourself,relativer or family member a gay what you gonna DO????????
But like to thank and i know there are bunch of people who understand…..WE ARE BORN GAY WE ARE NOT MADE NOR INFLUNCED…WHOM TO BLAME OR PARENTS OR GOD….
GOD CREATED US THE WAY WE ARE IF YOU CAN CHANGE US THEN WE DON’T MIND YOU BLAMING US,
PHUNTSHO MY FRIENDS ARE READY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AFTER GOING THROUGH YOUR ARTICLE THEY ARE PROUD OF US AND THE CREDIT GOES TO YOU
KEEP WRITING
wow
our people should be aware and understand instead of pointing fingure and making fuss out of it.
It’s a high time m not saying this to encourage the people who are not gays but to respect them or ignore then stop making fun & cooking nonsense stories……i had a gay friends from them i have learned that the are better then normal people only thing is that they have diffrent sexual choice which is k..
bht
I would like to spend some time with bigoted people like Nalenjan and dawa so i show them that it’s not such bad thing to be gay. I guarantee they will have a good time
in gross bottomline all type of sex is wants it is not ok in all religioues type, as sex is not a need,in philosophy of spritual, if we free from this lustfull thought, i think we are liberited of many nagative thoughts and action, we will be free from killing cells and egg, for self pleasure for while, so why to worry about the issue wich is not food and cloth, or shelter, or wisdom, ,,,, this world is dirty by its nature, that is why we suffer from all sort of life suffering, sex = birth = growth = old age= death= whole prosssecs is all about lust, whare mindfull is lost in it, or over come by desire or lust, wich is ultimately lost in its repature, that is not a mindfullnes budhist culture at all,and it must not apply or re write in public media,
Most of the Bhutanese people are inherently progressive and compassion minded people. I am proud to say that I am a part of such a society. The few that spout such hateful vitriole like Dawa are ones who were indoctrinated Victorian era mentality during their education in India. They are the same ones who get ashamed by our finely painted crimson phalluses. I would hope that they would one day realize what it means to be bhutanese
Sir/ madam
All i want to say is that the marriage of same gender should be legallised. Let them live a normal life just like every one of us. If one has to become modern this are the things which should be understood. Modernazation does not only mean accepting latest trends and acting like celebraties. Every one of us have right to live life in our own ways. Every one has right to be happy. And if homosexuals are happy,why should others have problem? We should rather try understanding them and not make their fun. Letro, you are great..thats the confident one should have in life!!
“A defendant shall be guilty of the offence of unnatural transportation, if the defendant engages in flying by plane or any other transportation that is against the order of nature”
hey evrybody………
Mother nature has everything for our needs but no patience for our greed…… remember we are playing with the toy that god gives us….. let us enjoy those which are meant for us….. not those which are not meaant for us….
Bhutan is advancing into morden era.. but that should not suggest that gay should be accepted….. after all it will be the world of gay…..
we have to realize that Bhutan at this time is Misunderstanding between “MODERNIZATION” and “WESTERNIZATION” Gay is westernization and not modernization…. that should not happen in Bhutan……….
well said by tshewgyel…misunderstanding between Modernization and westernization…its same i guess! infact the difference of thinking in bhutanese society and western society can meke it more understandable. Dont u think we should have modern thinking? One can understand such matter only when it befalls on them………its easy to give lectures….but to understand someone’s feeling is much harder….What can some Gay do if they are born like that…It is not only about a guy loving another guy….it also happens that a guy thinks and feels like a girl…so whats there to discuss?
tshewgyel,
you’re obviously are very confused having been indoctrinated in Victorian era mentality by the nuns at the catholic school you attended to in India. Gay has nothing to do with westernization. You’ll probably find people who are attracted to the same sex in even the most isolated villages in Bhutan where people have never come in contact with westerners or western culture. Most people in those villages will just accept those people with a combination and bemusment and none-judgmental acceptance. Why? Because that is the Bhutanese way; that is the Buddhist way. You and your Victorian cohorts such as Sangay may have these ideas of how things should be as a result of your indoctrination at the hands of Christian nuns, but you should no better than to try spread your message of intolerance in Bhutan
Remember this is after all the land where Drukpa Kinley’s thunderbolt adorns just about everry house.
Hey thanks for this article and for the author to bring up this issue. Well I always thought I was only one in Bhutan who not only engaged in physical relation with same sex sometimes, but even feel depp inside that it is right thing to do, and want to be involved in long-term physical and mental relation with a guy i love. I always thought my partner does it because of not being able to get the girl…Whether they is monk or armed force or villager friend I always noticed that the next day we act as if nothing happened- till the next time…So perhaps there are some guys like me…and pls dun hesitate to contact me ok….beczoz I am longing for more frens to share the ideas and feelings and who knows meet the person of my life. And if there is anyone lesbian Bhutanese girl…then also contact me…so we can have a marriage of mutual benefit….becoz my family is pressuring me too much…but I cannot make a straight girl happy that way, it would be like cheating. Thanks. JD. superdorjee@yahoo.com
hey tshwgyel….you are in the confused state of matter…you are ruinin the defination of westernisation and modernisation……hahaha….you ought to know that westernisation brings modernisation..thats y we are with the computers…internet..tvs wch are so called western products…..wch modernises the country….or are you saying that havin the people’s sexual orientation as straight wud modernise the country…no man….or if a boy was born gay and lived gay…will he he called westerner..since you said that the gay thing is a western issue…
so people and all the gays….live ur own life….live and let live
Bhutan is supposed to be a rightful country…is it not?…so why is that gay is such a taboo subject here….i mean is it really “unnatural”….what is so unnatural about being a gay…it’s an individual choice and should be respected……’i support, do you?’….
ok now.. ppl who are against the whole idea of being “gay”….. all u r doing is insulting and ripping on them… i just want u’ll to come up with one gud reason for gay being bad.. or unnatural… one reason… other than.. “it’s not suppose to be like that” or “the law says so”…
n yea.. tala…. it’s not abt adopting everything anyone does…. it’s abt analyzing it.. separating the gud and the bad.. that’s what makes us intelligent beings…..
my body my wish.That is all
Dear friends,
Thank you for your thoughts,i took these courage to talk with media Phuntsho so that i can voice for all gays,but i know how it landed up as a shock for few and disater for many but i feel rgood as people are aware that there is a gay……….
Wel to all my unknown gay friends m leaving you this mail address do writ to me m planning to talk to kuensel and have proper conversation and right image of people like us maile me at badboyletro@gmail.com NOTE: only Gays please share your view for articles pls it will be confidential you got to trust me
Letro
well as far i’m concerned with all due respect this means that there is now one male lesser than usual when it comes to courting women folk. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!
MODERNISATION AT ITS FINEST!!!
and like i said respect to all in terms of sexual orientation.
darth,
umhh.. before you get all excited, I just wanted make you aware, it cuts both ways. i.e if there are gays then there are lesbians too. Therefore you’re chances of getting laid doesn’t increase… sorry to pop your bubble.
hehehe
well….why don’t we let them live their life and accept that they are the same as all other people dead or alive.its a good thing to know that people in bhutan support this thing.and ya for people like Dawa and Nalenjan,what ever you say it aint gonna change peoples’ thought and its a disappointment to ve people like you…
And for Letro,I appreciated your guts and it really must ve made it easier for others too.I ll always be there to support you in alll your times..
lilo
sorry if i got you wrong,are you one kind i mean one of us sorry if i offended you by asking this …you sounds really cool and open minded we will really looking for you when we need help.thanks a bunch once more
badboyletro@gmail.com
prediction of Guru rimpoche has come true”it is not time to change, it is people who changes” . If the majority of the society donot accept this system, we have to banned it. We have to respect the individual right , but the right has to be acceptable in the society. It will be better if we follow the system that has been inherited from our father. We should adopt the western system which is not acceptable in our society. We need to cut the root of homosexuality and to ensure that it will never happen in future. Sometime we need to respect our culture and tradition. What will be the reaction from our parents if we get married to same sex. If the majority accept this system. Let us not follow what other is doing. let us be what we are.
Well, as long as they are happy we should be happy for it……..why bother about someones’ life.
It is both refreshing and exciting to see such a spirited discussion coming from a place where most people do not discuss homosexuality openly. Those of us who live in far more developed countries take our freedom to enjoy our (alternative) sexuality for granted. I am especially happy that none who have commented blame evil foreigners for bringing their sexuality with them. My question is how visitors can meet Bhutanese gays and lesbians. When we travel we like to meet people who are the same, not for sexual opportunities but to share ideas and compare our lives. Congratulations for the Bhutan Observer for publishing what was probably considered a risky story.
it is really nice that such an article has been written…i can say that this article has spread an awareness among the bhutanese society which i think is very useful for gay as a whole…i myself being a gay i i feel really glad to come across such writings….anyway i think everyone should support and accept gays as they are..after all its their life and they have the right to do what they like..homosexuals are not mentally ill as some people says..it has been scientifically proved that the sexual orientation is set even before the baby is born..and i know that we are not a criminal who is psychologically unsound..we are as normal as the straight people if not the better..i think homosexuality should be legalized in our country and let all gays and lesbian live their normal life.its high time for the bhutanese society///….
BRAVO to the writer,lethro and other supporters…
when the concept of gayism and lesbanism surface to public media the focus shouldn’t be on the concept of westernization/modernization which most of us cannot even define it. my thought is on the theme: human right, equality, egalitarian society and justice which are all the components of GNH. i believe tht invasion of privacy is a crime. unless any activities tht donot harm the sentiments and welbeing of nation and individual, lets believe and change our bhutanese mindset towards creating change in the minds of gayist. i mean as previous writers stressed tht its their right. i am afraid of one thing when people says why to bother. but i believe tht we should bother them in a positive ways. if gay is not legalized and legitimized, in the longrun am afraid tht their production and productive capacity may be affected since majority of educated lord and no doubt illiterate mass would lookdown and considered it as an illicit activities, thus, demoralizing gays. i think ellaborative studies and research need to be done on the acceptability of gay both at the lowest and higest level. this will continue to become pertinent issues sooner or later. congratulation media personnel and previous writers for bringing up such relevant issues. lets be happy bhutan cos i believe we cannot ban this type of relationship in the society unless we eradicate human being…..thanx for reading.
Well..Why is it soo wrong to love just another guy???
you are what you set off to be. I think it doesn’t matter if ur an gay or not, i think its alright and because people are different. you shouldn’t let society judge u, but be who u comfortably r…
yeah! i always wonder is there any gay in bhutan, there is couple of teens act like a boy we said it tom girl or tom boys. but they have boyfriend and girlfriend. i thought there is no gay but there is wow! i mean no shock because its human nature. they didnt choose to be like that. there nothing they can do to change them self. there is a gay movie. its really touch peoples heart. i think bhutaness people have to see this. if there is any people who cannot understand their problem it have to take act.
You homos!!!!!!! get perished……. in the name and claim of rights u animals are distorting the natural means….. i say this people are iressponsible etc……
You homos…… need to observe animals…….. what you u say, “animal” to people who don’t understand ….. but u people seems worst than animals…….. coz atleast they understand, keep and do things natural as natural…..
Let ur ass get rotten and ur thing fall away…….!!!!!!!!!!
I think it’s great that most Bhutanese people are open minded. I guess that’s what comes of being a Buddhist
bro!!!!!!! open mind does not mean buddhist…!!! But in a way you are right becoz thismonks anims do what when they go wild simply sittting and eating jammed with all…….. they go wild and what this called religous by name does all this rubbish things to survive….. in fact homoss….are made in this places……….
But be mindful of natural thing…… Even in nature when things go wrong there comes along all the painful consequences…….. this type of hedonism will led to destruction………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Karma,
You sound just like one of the newly converted christians of Bhutan. I think if anything will bring bring destruction to Bhutan, it’s preople like you. I hope you think once hard before you make these unsubstantiated accusations against our buddhist monks and nuns. Just because you’ve been given the freedom of religion does not mean you can try to covertly attack Buddhism.
Hello People,
Let’s make this clear for the people who think GAys are sick its BIG NO
GAY IS NOT A CHOICE BUT WE ARE BORN AS GAY.
For example if you are straight man and if you are forced to be gay and ask to sleep with man how would you feel ????? The answer will be UNNATURAL Rite,so think if gays are forced to sleep with a gal its not natural for them eithr.
Lastly no matter what people think GAY EXIST b4 our forefather and now…..its just that now due to latest technology we ar e comming to know
NO MATTER WHAT GAYS WILL BE GAYS WETHER YOU ACCEPT US OR NOT.
we are NOT SICK NR DISEASE TO BE CURED, TELL ME WHOS FAULT IS IT IF WE ARE BORN IN THE WAY WE ARE…..
THANKS PHUNTSHO FOR MAKING PEOPLE REALIZING THE TRUTH
LETRO
badboyletro@gmail.com
KARMA,
ok we are animals what harm did we do to you, sooner or later what if your cousin or family happens to be gay what you gonna do?????or there might be????
wake up man we livin in a modern period.,Do me a favor just don’t bother or make comments have no right poking figer mae.’
Thanks
Letro
wat a guy we got there…a real fighter in mae go……..
There is nothing wrong with homosexuality. Not everyone in the world has to agree with each other but I’m finding that the whole, “respecting each others opinions” thing doesn’t seem to exist. What ever happened with staying out of other peoples business.
Honestly, my thoughts are that if these people are willing to go to such amazing lengths to make gay people feel like filth… then they are missing something in there life!! I would rather be playing piano or maybe watching a good movie then going out and preaching about something that doesn’t actually involve me at all.
If you don’t like gay people then (this may be a foreign concept) why not just sit down and realize that if you REALLY are right, then you should have no problem with them going to hell and you not. How about instead of preaching hate you actually focus on what religion is about, spreading love and ending hate!
Sigh, what if a gay person saved millions of people by a vaccine. Would he still go to hell? Well, I’d like to think that God is nicer then that. After all, he created them…
hey…kol guys..! this is not a big issue.they are also like us,its jus they cant share it with others as the normal people do…we gotta help them sa..everyone one has their own rites…so let them live their own life…hope these guys will come forward one day…..
Thank u Letro for ur courage and ur comments. Thanks to everyone else for their comments. Its good to see such a spirited discussion.
I am a from another country and am gay (a guy). I am coming to Bhutan soon. I find this dialogue very interesting and for the most part, very encouraging. I see a lot of compassion and kindness despite a lack of exposure. There are some that don’t understand that we are born as who we are (just like heterosexuals are born heterosexual)…but I don’t pay their negativity and meanness any attention. I need to focus on being a good person.
I hope to meet some gay friends when I am there. My email is shahpesareh@hotmail.com
LIVE & LET LIVE
Phuntsho I really m looking forward for the second edition of the story and please do let me know if i can be of any help.
Regards
Letro
Hello people,
It is interesting to see what Bhutanese see of the “gay” issue that is pretty much a big topic in most countries these days. I would like to point out some valuable facts:
- homosexuality is not a choice. Multiple research has been done that found out (though not 100%) that being gay is as natural as being born with white, brown, yellow, or black skin. You can’t change your race (apart from Michael Jackson) and you defiantly cannot choose your sexuality.
-if sexuality is a choice (as most fanatic people like to use), then one can choose to be gay or straight in an instance. So straight people, would you be gay at any moment you please? And also, when did you decide to be straight?
-homosexuality is observed in the animal kingdom as well. For example, male dolphins have been studied to be mates for life. Other animals include, penguin, lion, girraf, zebra, elephants, baboons and many other animals.
-the issue of gay marriage. People of the same sex marrying DOES NOT affect your marriage in any form. If your marriage sucks, then that’s because of you or your spoue’s problem, no one else’s.
-being gay or lesbian is not a mental problem.
-many teen suicide comprise of young gay or lesbian adolescents believing what they are as being “evil,” unnatural” and many negative aspect of being a human. People who say homosexuality as “unnatural” or “bad” in any form is promoting hate and causing unnecessary deaths.
-being gay is not like a communicable disease. You can not catch ‘gayness’ like you catch a cold.
So please remember that being gay or lesbian is as natural as being left handed, having curly hair, light or dark skin and other natural things that define us as humans.
hellow…bhutanese …hellow to everyone,,,…..
to b frank…it is a real pitty for them to have no identity in the society…,,
wat do that “unnatural sex” mean ????….that shud b defined soon by the concerned heads……i was not aware of any Gays in bhutan,,,,My bhutan ,,,My Country …and ur country and Our country….well…gay population is everywhere ….but it is Lethro…u have courage and confident to tell the truth behind urself…and u have raised the silence of Other Gay fren…..it is a real sadness…some dun want to see gays in bhutan…..as told by one of the frens above….it is not time that changes but poeple who changes…but v dun blame for time!….hey…Gays …fell happy….U r in Bhutan…U have the Right to B wat u r ….
I m not gay…those frens who r on the side of Gay maynot b gay too….sometimes i think that gays donot look fit in the society ..but that was my mistake,,,,,U all were born Gay…so U cannot make urslef like those others want u to like…
But i m bit afraid of being wat i m ha ha ha….I m afraid to Gays ….sorry if it hurt for some of the gay….but i respect ur right to come forward…….
Will Bhutan B free Gay country now…????
hey Lethro,
many congrats goes out to you for showing your courage……….keep it up man!
I agree with you guys that being a GAY is not a crime nor it is abnormal/unnatural…….They also have their right to love so i think we ought to support them. I also have a lots of gay friends and they are all cool…….so if anyone think Gay is an abnormal then he is the biggest fool……….Mind You….its my body my wish……………so lethro i’ll alys support you now and foreva……….
i would like to be your friend Lethro!!
CHEERS TO ALL THE GAYS IN BHUTAN!!
No matter what….Gay will alys be gay cuz they have right to love.
Keep Rocking Lethro!
LuckeeBoi20@gmail.com
hey there, come on guys , wake up…we’re in the 21st century…..maybe we might not be that modern like an american but we got rights and i purely belive people who ve an incliclination for same sex should not be deprived of their right….a law should be made up in bhutan as to see no one faces the wrath of the rowdy people…its sad that India doesn’t ve this law but, we ‘re in for a change…that too for a better one……..
This one’s for all homo-sexual ppl…lol
accepting gays in a society seems fine but looking at this forum itself… its not gonna be easy. i m not talking bout striaght persons’ response but look what is happening in this forum. let me explain:
-BO post this forum to introduce gay to the society…..
-letro is greatful to BO for the comment and even responses to some comment….
-lilo writes in the comment and letro thinks this person is gay.. so he gives his email id…..(dont know his intention….but unnatural to give ids in a forum)
-then a gay foreigner comments and he wants to come to bhutan to woo bhutanese gays….. interesting
-lukee give his id in the forum for letro……
may be it ll go on and all gay ll finally turn up in here…..
so now wats natural… do the striaght people give their id so that they can attract some other?
does a striaght foreigner give his id and think bout coming to bhutan to meet bhutanese girls?
GAYS ARE ACCEPTED IN SOCIETY BUT NOT THEIR WILDNESS. I
something to add on…
gays.. live ur life but you dont need to show everyone that you are gays.
then people… there is a movie on gay revolution “MILK” if u wanna watch.
I would like to thank Phuntsho for bringing this volatile topic in the knowledge of people. I have also thanked you personally if you remember. Congrats to letro for having the courage to talk to media on this volatile topic. It is very encouraging to read comments from readers which are very supportive towards gays community, it will go a long way to support them. There have been some negative comments too, but there are few people in society who are suppose to have negative mindset and think negatively for whatever good they hear about.
Nevertheless, the understanding of many in this forum towards gays is really nice. gays do not look for sex always. it is the emotional support they look in other gay friend in a society where they feel isolated and different.
I have come acroos many gays in bhutan and other countries and found them to be very decent, nice gentle men working professionals and others who are contributing to the development of their country.
hence my thanks to all supporters of gays. Your supportive word will go a long way to make the life of these people easier. being in Thimphu i ve noticed that people are very broad minded and helpful, this is very encouraging. One can contact me at mdruk@sify.com
with the above posting I would like to urge people to support these third catagory of people who are looking for support from all citizens. the above sify email id does not work, kindly post any comment at mdruk09@yahoo.in
Wel Sangay,
Let me clear your doubts alrite,Wel the reason i have given my e-mail add is not to attract any1 got it,As i mention earlier m collecting more details from a real gays and m planning to fight for the rights and my gay friend is helping me out but before doing that i need the history and some confindintail which cannot be posted out her.
If you didnot get pls mail me badboyletro@gmail.com i will be happy to answer them,Wel thanks people.
LIVE & LET LIVE
And Mind on your Business
LuckeeBoi
wel m glade atlest i have friends like you and few other above who atlest understand my proble…ofcourse we can be friends any thing you want to know or ask maile me you know my e-mail.
Guess what my gay friends will be here and they will be kind give idea to come out but m not really sure if i am ready for this but will follow what ma hear says any way luckeeboi here is my e0add badboyletro@gmail..com
Till then keep smiling
Letro
Those of you self-righteous folks who oppose gay rights (Dawa, Geela, Sangay) : What makes you think you are better than gays and that you deserve the right to choose your own heterosexual partners and gays can’t? What gives you the right to infringe upon someone else’s right to choose their own partners in life? Every person should have the right to live their life the way they want as long as they’re not invading yours. I second Lethro – LIVE and LET LIVE!
“A defendant shall be guilty of the offence of unnatural sex, if the defendant engages in sodomy or any other sexual conduct that is against the order of nature”
hey gays… well do u consider urself unnatural? r u conducting sex against the order of nature???
looking to wat u gays r say… i think u consider urself unnatural… then why wont others consider u unnatural. may be its time u all feel free and dont consider urslef unnatural…
hey guys…sodomy in very common…man and man or man and woman. but we r not unnatural…. so i think u r still fighting for nothing…
So Sangay….Can I ask You Something??
Is being a gay crime???………..i don’t think so!!
if u say “YES”….then u are the biggest fool inthe world.
Gay are natural & they will always be natural in future.
So what about you??? i think you are really happy being heterosexual…rite??
but think about the future Sangay……wat if your son turns out to be gay???
huh….then wat will u say 2 ur son????……Maybe i guess u’ll kill him…rite??
Gay are not at all conducting sex against nature…..if i remind u that………
how can u say it is against the nature???
In this modern world who cares about so call ‘nature’????
we’ll fight and help our friends here no matter what…..
so sangay…..think before you speak…..and open your eyes now!!…this is not a medievel bhutan…….its a 21st century…..everything can happen dear!!
“A defendant shall be guilty of the offence of unnatural sex, if the defendant engages in sodomy or any other sexual conduct that is against the order of nature” ………….i agree with this but not in these modern world……..
I think being heterosexual is a crime too cuz u guys must be hearing a news on television and in newspaper that rape cae in bhutan is increasing…………….and the most shameful of all the news is ….a stepfather raping the daughter…….teacher raping a student…….i think this example should be called unnatural sex………
hope sumthing have gone inside your head sangay!!
HERE ARE SOME OFTHE INFORMATION ON HOMOSEXUAL WHICH I’VE COLLECTED FROM THE NET & THIS ARTICLE IS SPECIALLY MEANT FOR THOSE WHO ARE HOMOPHOBIA…………..I HOPE THEIR EYES WILL OPEN SOON!!
PEACE OUT!!
Homosexuality refers to attraction or sexual behavior between people of the same sex, or to a sexual orientation. As an orientation, homosexuality refers to “an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions primarily to” people of the same sex; “it also refers to an individual’s sense of personal and social identity based on those attractions, behaviors expressing them, and membership in a community of others who share them.”
Homosexuality is one of the three main categories of sexual orientation, along with bisexuality and heterosexuality, within the heterosexual-homosexual continuum. The number of people who identify as homosexual — and the proportion of people who have same-sex sexual experiences — are difficult for researchers to estimate reliably for a variety of reasons.In the modern West major studies indicate a prevalence of 2% to 13% of the population.A 2006 study suggested that 20% of the population anonymously reported some homosexual feelings, although relatively few participants in the study identified themselves as homosexual.The prevalence of homosexual orientation among males may vary over time and across societies in part because of variations in fertility rate or family size.
Homosexual relationships and acts have been admired as well as condemned throughout recorded history, depending on the form they took and the culture in which they occurred. Since the end of the 1800s (especially in the West), there has been a movement towards increased visibility, recognition and legal rights for homosexual people, including the rights to marriage and civil unions, adoption and parenting, employment, military service, and equal access to health care.
Etymology and usage
Zephyrus and Hyacinthus
Attic red-figure cup from Tarquinia, 480 BC (Boston Museum of Fine Arts)Etymologically, the word homosexual is a Greek and Latin hybrid with homos (sometimes confused with an unrelated Latin word for “man”, as in Homo sapiens) deriving from the Greek word for same, thus connoting sexual acts and affections between members of the same sex, including lesbianism.Gay generally refers to male homosexuality, but is sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to all LGBT people. In the context of sexuality, lesbian denotes female homosexuality.
The adjective homosexual describes behavior, relationships, people, orientation etc. The adjectival form literally means “same sex”, being a hybrid formed from Greek homo- (a form of homos “same”), and “sexual” from Medieval Latin sexualis (from Classical Latin sexus). Many modern style guides in the U.S. recommend against using homosexual as a noun, instead using gay man or lesbian.Similarly, some recommend completely avoiding usage of homosexual as having a negative and discredited clinical history and because the word only refers to one’s sexual behavior, and not to romantic feelings.Gay and lesbian are the most common alternatives. The first letters are frequently combined to create the initialism LGBT (sometimes written as GLBT), in which B and T refer to bisexual and transgender people. These style guides are not always followed by mainstream media sources.
The first known appearance of homosexual in print is found in an 1869 German pamphlet by the Austrian-born novelist Karl-Maria Kertbeny, published anonymously,arguing against a Prussian anti-sodomy law.In 1879, Gustav Jager used Kertbeny’s terms in his book, Discovery of the Soul (1880).In 1886, Richard von Krafft-Ebing used the terms homosexual and heterosexual in his book Psychopathia Sexualis, probably borrowing them from Jager. Krafft-Ebing’s book was so popular among both layman and doctors that the terms “heterosexual” and “homosexual” became the most widely accepted terms for sexual orientation.
As such, the current use of the term has its roots in the broader 19th-century tradition of personality taxonomy. These continue to influence the development of the modern concept of sexual orientation, gaining associations with romantic love and identity in addition to its original, exclusively sexual, meaning.
Although early writers also used the adjective homosexual to refer to any single-sex context (such as an all-girls’ school), today the term is used exclusively in reference to sexual attraction, activity, and orientation. The term homosocial is now used to describe single-sex contexts that are not specifically sexual. There is also a word referring to same-sex love, homophilia. Other terms include men who have sex with men or MSM (used in the medical community when specifically discussing sexual activity), homoerotic (referring to works of art), heteroflexible (referring to a person who identifies as heterosexual, but occasionally engages in same-sex sexual activities), and metrosexual (referring to a non-gay man with stereotypically gay tastes in food, fashion, and design). Pejorative terms in English include queer, faggot, fairy, poof, and homo. Beginning in the 1990s, some of these have been reclaimed as positive words by gay men and lesbians, as in the usage of queer studies, queer theory, and even the popular American television program Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. The word homo occurs in many other languages without the pejorative connotations it has in English.[23] As with ethnic slurs and racial slurs, however, the misuse of these terms can still be highly offensive; the range of acceptable use depends on the context and speaker. Conversely, gay, a word originally embraced by homosexual men and women as a positive, affirmative term (as in gay liberation and gay rights), has come into widespread pejorative use among young people.
Sexuality and gender identity
The American Psychological Association states that sexual orientation “describes the pattern of sexual attraction, behavior and identity e.g. homosexual (aka gay, lesbian), bisexual and heterosexual (aka straight).” “Sexual attraction, behavior and identity may be incongruent. For example, sexual attraction and/or behavior may not necessarily be consistent with identity. Some individuals may identify themselves as homosexual or bisexual without having had any sexual experience. Others have had homosexual experiences but do not consider themselves to be gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Further, sexual orientation falls along a continuum. In other words, someone does not have to be exclusively homosexual or heterosexual, but can feel varying degrees of both. Sexual orientation develops across a person’s lifetime-different people realize at different points in their lives that they are heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual.”
People with a homosexual orientation who do not identify as gay or lesbian are often referred to as closeted.
Homosexual activity can also occur in situations where large groups of persons of the same sex are confined together for some length of time, as in prison, the military, single-sex boarding schools, or other sex-segregated communities, where members of those communities might engage in homosexual behaviors but otherwise identify as heterosexual.
Sexual identity development: “coming-out process”
Many people who feel attracted to members of their own sex have a so-called “coming out” at some point in their lives. Generally, coming out is described in three phases. The first phase is the phase of “knowing oneself,” and the realization or decision emerges that one is open to same-sex relations. This is often described as an internal coming out. The second phase involves one’s decision to come out to others, e.g. family, friends, and/or colleagues. This occurs with many people as early as age 11, but others do not clarify their sexual orientation until age 40 or older. The third phase more generally involves living openly as an LGBT person.In the United States today, people often come out during high school or college age. At this age, they may not trust or ask for help from others, especially when their orientation is not accepted in society. Sometimes their own parents are not even informed.
According to Rosario, Schrimshaw, Hunter, Braun (2006), “the development of a lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) sexual identity is a complex and often difficult process. Unlike members of other minority groups (e.g., ethnic and racial minorities), most LGB individuals are not raised in a community of similar others from whom they leam about their identity and who reinforce and support that identity. Rather, LGB individuals are often raised in communities that are either ignorant of or openly hostile toward homosexuality.”
Outing is the practice of publicly revealing the sexual orientation of a closeted person.Notable politicians, celebrities, military service people, and clergy members have been outed, with motives ranging from malice to political or moral beliefs. Many commentators oppose the practice altogether,while some encourage outing public figures who use their positions of influence to harm other gay people.
Gender identity
The earliest writers on a homosexual orientation usually understood it to be intrinsically linked to the subject’s own sex. For example, it was thought that a typical female-bodied person who is attracted to female-bodied persons would have masculine attributes, and vice versa.This understanding was shared by most of the significant theorists of homosexuality from the mid 19th to early 20th centuries, such as Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, Richard von Krafft-Ebing, Magnus Hirschfeld, Havelock Ellis, Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud, as well as many gender variant homosexual people themselves. However, this understanding of homosexuality as sexual inversion was disputed at the time, and through the second half of the 20th century, gender identity came to be increasingly seen as a phenomenon distinct from sexual orientation.
Transgender and cisgender people may be attracted to men, women or both, although the prevalence of different sexual orientations is quite different in these two populations. An individual homosexual, heterosexual or bisexual person may be masculine, feminine, or androgynous, and in addition, many members and supporters of lesbian and gay communities now see the “gender-conforming heterosexual” and the “gender-nonconforming homosexual” as negative stereotypes. However, studies by J. Michael Bailey and K.J. Zucker have found that a majority of gay men and lesbians report being gender-nonconforming during their childhood years.
Forms of relationships
Same-sex relationship
People with a homosexual orientation can express their sexuality in a variety of ways, and may or may not express it in their behaviors.Some have sexual relationships predominately with people of their own gender identity, another gender, bisexual relationships or they can be celibate.Research indicates that many lesbians and gay men want and have committed and durable relationships. For example, survey data indicate that between 40% and 60% of gay men and between 45% and 80% of lesbians are currently involved in a romantic relationships.Survey data also indicates that between 18% and 28% of gay couples and between 8% and 21% of lesbian couples in the U.S. have lived together ten or more years.Studies have found same-sex and opposite-sex couples to be equivalent to each other in measures of relationship satisfaction and commitment.
Gay and lesbian people can have sexual relationships with someone of the opposite sex for a variety of reasons including the desire for family with children and concerns of discrimination and religious ostracism.A mixed-orientation marriage is when one partner is non-heterosexual.While some hide their orientation from their spouse, others develop a positive gay or lesbian identity while maintaining a successful marriage.Coming out of the closet to oneself, a spouse and children can present unique challenges compared to gays and lesbians who are not married or do not have children.
Psychology
Homosexuality and psychology
Most lesbian, gay, and bisexual people who seek psychotherapy do so for the same reasons as heterosexuals (stress, relationship difficulties, difficulty adjusting to social or work situations, etc.); their sexual orientation may be of primary, incidental, or no importance to their issues and treatment. Whatever the issue, there is a high risk for anti-gay bias in psychotherapy with lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients.Psychological research in this areas has been relevant to counteracting prejudicial (“homophobic”) attitudes and actions, and to the LGBT rights movement generally.
History
Wikinews has related news: Dr. Joseph Merlino on sexuality, insanity, Freud, fetishes and apathy
Psychology was one of the first disciplines to study a homosexual orientation as a discrete phenomenon. The first attempts to classify homosexuality as a disease were made by the fledgling European sexologist movement in the late 19th century. In 1886 noted sexologist Richard von Krafft-Ebing listed homosexuality along with 200 other case studies of deviant sexual practices in his definitive work, Psychopathia Sexualis. Krafft-Ebing proposed that homosexuality was caused by either “congenital [during birth] inversion” or an “acquired inversion”. In the last two decades of the 19th century, a different view began to predominate in medical and psychiatric circles, judging such behavior as indicative of a type of person with a defined and relatively stable sexual orientation. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, pathological models of homosexuality were standard.
Today, the consensus of medical and scientific professional organizations is that homosexuality is not a mental illness. In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association (APA) removed homosexuality as a disorder from the Sexual Deviancy section of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the DSM-II.The World Health Organization’s ICD-9 (1977) listed homosexuality as a mental illness, and in 1990, a resolution was adopted to remove it in the ICD-10 (1993).[61] The ICD-10 added ego-dystonic sexual orientation to the list, which refers to people who want to change their gender identities or sexual orientation because of a psychological or behavioral disorder (F66.1). Groups that advocate reparative therapy, including both secular organizations such as NARTH and religious organizations such as Exodus International, do not accept this position.
Etiology
Biology and sexual orientation and Environment and sexual orientation
There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian orientation.The main reasons cited include genetic and environmental factors, likely in combination.Other factors that may play a role include prenatal hormone exposure, where hormones play a role in determining sexual orientation as they do with sex differentiation;and prenatal stress on the mother.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that “sexual orientation probably is not determined by any one factor but by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences”.The American Psychological Association has stated that “there are probably many reasons for a person’s sexual orientation and the reasons may be different for different people”. It stated that, for most people, sexual orientation is determined at an early age.The American Psychiatric Association has stated that, “to date there are no replicated scientific studies supporting any specific biological etiology for homosexuality. Similarly, no specific psychosocial or family dynamic cause for homosexuality has been identified, including histories of childhood sexual abuse”.Research into how sexual orientation may be determined by genetic or other prenatal factors plays a role in political and social debates about homosexuality, and also raises fears about genetic profiling and prenatal testing.
Innate bisexuality (or predisposition to bisexuality) is a term introduced by Sigmund Freud, based on work by his associate Wilhelm Fliess, that expounds that all humans are born bisexual but through psychological development – which includes both external and internal factors – become monosexual, while the bisexuality remains in a latent state.
In a 2008 study, its authors stated that “there is considerable evidence that human sexual orientation is genetically influenced, so it is not known how homosexuality, which tends to lower reproductive success, is maintained in the population at a relatively high frequency”. They hypothesized that “while genes predisposing to homosexuality reduce homosexuals’ reproductive success, they may confer some advantage in heterosexuals who carry them”. Their results suggested that “genes predisposing to homosexuality may confer a mating advantage in heterosexuals, which could help explain the evolution and maintenance of homosexuality in the population”.
Mental
Since it was first described in medical literature, homosexuality has often been approached from a view that sought to find an inherent psychopathology as its root cause. Much literature on mental health and homosexual patients centered on their depression, substance abuse, and suicide. Although these issues exist among non-heterosexuals, discussion about their causes shifted after homosexuality was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) in 1973. Instead, social ostracism, legal discrimination, internalization of negative stereotypes, and limited support structures indicate factors homosexual people face in Western societies that often adversely affect their mental health.Stigma, prejudice, and discrimination stemming from negative societal attitudes toward homosexuality lead to a higher prevalence of mental health disorders among lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals compared to their heterosexual peers.Evidence indicates that the liberalization of these attitudes over the past few decades is associated with a decrease in such mental health risks among younger LGBT people.
Gay and lesbian youth
Gay and lesbian youth bear an increased risk of suicide, substance abuse, school problems, and isolation because of a “hostile and condemning environment, verbal and physical abuse, rejection and isolation from family and peers”.Further, LGB youths are more likely to report psychological and physical abuse by parents or caretakers, and more sexual abuse. Suggested reasons for this disparity are that LGBT youths may be specifically targeted on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation or gender non-conforming appearance, and that “risk factors associated with sexual minority status, including discrimination, invisibility, and rejection by family members…may lead to an increase in behaviors that are associated with risk for victimization, such as substance abuse, sex with multiple partners, or running away from home as a teenager.”
Homosexuality in China, known as the pleasures of the bitten peach, the cut sleeve, or the southern custom, has been recorded since approximately 600 BCE. These euphemistic terms were used to describe behaviors, not identities (recently some fashionable young Chinese tend to euphemistically use the term “brokeback,” 斷背 duanbei to refer to male homosexuals, from the success of director Ang Lee’s film Brokeback Mountain).The relationships were marked by differences in age and social position. However, the instances of same-sex affection and sexual interactions described in the classical novel Dream of the Red Chamber seem as familiar to observers in the present as do equivalent stories of romances between heterosexuals during the same period.
This same-sex love culture gave rise to strong traditions of painting and literature documenting and celebrating such relationships.
Similarly, in Thailand, Kathoey, or “ladyboys,” have been a feature of Thai society for many centuries, and Thai kings had male as well as female lovers. While Kathoey may encompass simple effeminacy or transvestism, it most commonly is treated in Thai culture as a third gender. They are generally accepted by society, and Thailand has never had legal prohibitions against homosexuality or homosexual behavior.
During the Renaissance, wealthy cities in northern Italy—Florence and Venice in particular—were renowned for their widespread practice of same-sex love, engaged in by a considerable part of the male population and constructed along the classical pattern of Greece and Rome.But even as many of the male population were engaging in same-sex relationships, the authorities, under the aegis of the Officers of the Night court, were prosecuting, fining, and imprisoning a good portion of that population. The eclipse of this period of relative artistic and erotic freedom was precipitated by the rise to power of the moralizing monk Girolamo Savonarola. In northern Europe the artistic discourse on sodomy was turned against its proponents by artists such as Rembrandt, who in his Rape of Ganymede no longer depicted Ganymede as a willing youth, but as a squalling baby attacked by a rapacious bird of prey.
The relationships of socially prominent figures, such as King James I and the Duke of Buckingham, served to highlight the issue, including in anonymously authored street pamphlets: “The world is chang’d I know not how, For men Kiss Men, not Women now;…Of J. the First and Buckingham: He, true it is, his Wives Embraces fled, To slabber his lov’d Ganimede;” (Mundus Foppensis, or The Fop Display’d, 1691.)
Love Letters Between a Certain Late Nobleman and the Famous Mr. Wilson was published in 1723 in England and was presumed by some modern scholars to be a novel. The 1749 edition of John Cleland’s popular novel Fanny Hill includes a homosexual scene, but this was removed in its 1750 edition. Also in 1749, the earliest extended and serious defense of homosexuality in English, Ancient and Modern Pederasty Investigated and Exemplified, written by Thomas Cannon, was published, but was suppressed almost immediately. It includes the passage, “Unnatural Desire is a Contradiction in Terms; downright Nonsense. Desire is an amatory Impulse of the inmost human Parts.”Around 1785 Jeremy Bentham wrote another defense, but this was not published until 1978.Executions for sodomy continued in the Netherlands until 1803, and in England until 1835.
Between 1864 and 1880 Karl Heinrich Ulrichs published a series of twelve tracts, which he collectively titled Research on the Riddle of Man-Manly Love. In 1867 he became the first self-proclaimed homosexual person to speak out publicly in defense of homosexuality when he pleaded at the Congress of German Jurists in Munich for a resolution urging the repeal of anti-homosexual laws. Sexual Inversion by Havelock Ellis, published in 1896, challenged theories that homosexuality was abnormal, as well as stereotypes, and insisted on the ubiquity of homosexuality and its association with intellectual and artistic achievement.Although medical texts like these (written partly in Latin to obscure the sexual details) were not widely read by the general public, they did lead to the rise of Magnus Hirschfeld’s Scientific Humanitarian Committee, which campaigned from 1897 to 1933 against anti-sodomy laws in Germany, as well as a much more informal, unpublicized movement among British intellectuals and writers, led by such figures as Edward Carpenter and John Addington Symonds. Beginning in 1894 with Homogenic Love, Socialist activist and poet Edward Carpenter wrote a string of pro-homosexual articles and pamphlets, and “came out” in 1916 in his book My Days and Dreams. In 1900, Elisar von Kupffer published an anthology of homosexual literature from antiquity to his own time, Lieblingminne und Freundesliebe in der Weltliteratur. His aim was to broaden the public perspective of homosexuality beyond its being viewed simply as a medical or biological issue, but also as an ethical and cultural one.
Same-sex parenting is supported by the positions of a number of organizations, including the American Psychological Association, the Child Welfare League of America, the American Bar Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the North American Council on Adoptable Children, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychoanalytic Association, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.The American Psychological Association has stated that “there is no scientific evidence that parenting effectiveness is related to parental sexual orientation: lesbian and gay parents are as likely as heterosexual parents to provide supportive and healthy environments for their children”
Although homosexual acts were decriminalized in some parts of the Western world, such as Poland in 1932, Denmark in 1933, Sweden in 1944, and the United Kingdom in 1967, it was not until the mid-1970s that the gay community first began to achieve limited civil rights in some developed countries. A turning point was reached in 1973 when the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, thus negating its previous definition of homosexuality as a clinical mental disorder. In 1977, Quebec became the first state-level jurisdiction in the world to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. During the 1980s and 1990s, most developed countries enacted laws decriminalizing homosexual behavior and prohibiting discrimination against lesbians and gays in employment, housing, and services. Even so, many countries today—all of them in Africa, Asia, and South America—outlaw homosexuality. In six countries, homosexual behavour is punishable by life imprisonment; in ten others, it carries the death penalty.
please understadn that homos are made!!!!!! they are not willing to take the risk and responsibility of getteing married and loved; bearing chikdren and nurture… they are cowards, useless, shameless, worthless…….whatwver all bad things are you……….
We don’t say born gay but crazy, insane animal……….
my dear bhutanese better keep yourself away from this nonsense thing…. don’t think you will western or modern, or your are practising right but your are dooming our soceity of shangrila….
Your right doesn’t mean to do unnatural practices….. your right does not mean to teach unnatural practices….. Your right means to do what is respectable in soceity and nation.
Let me tell you if it was natural or born why from 6 billion people why more than 99.9% has to think it is not ok for soceity and is shamefull etc.. it is simple in logic…
Be better man and woman and enjoy heterosex the only acceptable to all………
What will you crazy homos!!!!!!!! when you see an ox trying to have sex with an another ox….. i don’t see any different than this…….
“Better to perish now than to be homo”
Wel,
Jime,
Watach your mouth you have no right and your words,Rem even what you call us after all we are human and we made of flesh and blood like you,Wel like i tole before we are not trying to force any body all we are asking is to give us our identity and if you can’t take it please you dont have to but respect we are human……..But friends don’t worry i know we all are use to people like Jigme and who know swe have to be more stronger as we have to face even stonecold people who don’t see us as Human but tell them
LIVE & LEt LIVE
Letro
Jime,
Watach your mouth you have no right and your words,Rem even what you call us after all we are human and we made of flesh and blood like you,Wel like i tole before we are not trying to force any body all we are asking is to give us our identity and if you can’t take it please you dont have to but respect we are human……..But friends don’t worry i know we all are use to people like Jigme and who know swe have to be more stronger as we have to face even stonecold people who don’t see us as Human but tell them
LIVE & LEt LIVE
Letro
well Jigme,
so when did u start thinking about our shangrila??
the shangrila of ours is not any more……..cuz the world is changing faster & faster. well now our shangrila is not anymore shangrila……………….haven’t u read the news about chorten vandalism…is this what people do in shangrila???
a man raping a small girls…………….is this what people do in shangrila???
Man open up your eye……………our once used to be peaceful Shangrila is not anymore…..so forget about shangrila!!
do Homo affect the society in bhutan???
My answer is a big ‘NO’………….it doesnot create any sideaffect to the society…
so why are u against homo people……they also have heart & a brain to understand.
maybe we should think about ourselves…….Jigme!!
what if your son turns out to be gay???
what will u do huh??
so it is better 2 think before we open our mouth cuz we human being beings have no bone in our tongue……
so instead of being against homo…………..u should be supporting them or counselling them…..
i know how they feel cuz i’m reseaching about gay.
so homophobia!!…….think twice before u speak or say anything………….u might be regreting it later…………..who knows!!
Hello all Bhutanese gay people. I love you all. I just watched a 2 hour TV documentary about Bhutan and I fell in love with your country and your people. I am a big fan of Kharma Phuntsho and I meet Bhutanese people here in my home town of Sydney, which is openly gay and accepts all people equally. I hope that I will meet a Bhutanese gay guy and fall madly in love and live happily forever. I dream that. How can I meet my perfect man? I will visit Bhutan soon to begin my search, all my love to you all , you are all so pure and special, Ena
This article was very interesting and shows a non biased view :
http://www.globalgayz.com/country/Bhutan/view/BTN/gay-bhutan-news-and-reports#article6
Hello people,
How are you guys doing……..we finally i have mange to get some information and have some people for clean and healthy talk around any one interested to join are wel come to maile me at badboyletro@gmail.com,but mind ou have to behave and its nothing we are going to be funny we wil have a descussion on the Topic,
Till the take care guys
Thanks you Phuntsho ,
any way shortly i will be mailing you personally you won’t belive me its quite interesting Phuntsho.
Regards
Letro
wel,
This site helps a lots,Dear friends just to let you know that there are few among those who are broad minded and thinks it k to be gay,but mind that they not encouraging,these people are straight and want to be friends and the said just a friend,some curious some thinks m kidding.
Once again for any question iyou can contact me at badboyletro@gmail.com hope i will be able to answer.
Thanks again BO & Phuntsho
guys you know what,,,
GAYS ARE THE SPECIAL PRODUCT MANUFACTURED BY THE GOD WHEN HE IS HIGH on CANNABIS…
forget about what i have written above
i hate myself for being the one to say this..but i cant help my self…those who are against the homosexuality are the ones who are religion extremist..
and you know what you all are more or less like TALIBAN..there is no place in this world for those poeple who all are like them..they are always hunted down and like them you all will soon be….so it would be better if you all respect them for what they are..and not to forget ,”you all are the poison for the well being and development of the nation”.
and for those who are into homosexuality..i just want to say that its not even been 50 years after Bhutan’s door was opened to the world..what i mean to say is ,there are many illiterate people living in bhutan at this moment..in fact the ratio of illeterate to the literate is very high..these illiterate people are those who are against the homosexuality…they dont know anything about everything…they wont understand but their grandsons and granddaughters might understand about it…after few decades i think the so called gaydom would evolve…
we all who are not against the homosexuality respect you for what you are and hope you will have a normal life…
Hello peopl,
M checking these comments and its time for us to check among from the above comment lets see how many of them cake take us as we are or how many of people think we are sick.
any way like grandma said our voice will be haerd in future atlest lets fight for the people who can atlest have enjoyable life.
Badboyletro@gmail.com
Letro
badboyletro@gmail.co pls share your view or suggestion for gays only
what ever happens happens for the best
Sexualization
The word had started to acquire associations of immorality by 1637and was used in the late 17th century with the meaning “addicted to pleasures and dissipations.” This was by extension from the primary meaning of “carefree”: implying “uninhibited by moral constraints.” A gay woman was a prostitute, a gay man a womanizer and a gay house a brothel.
The use of gay to mean “homosexual” was in origin merely an extension of the word’s sexualised connotation of “carefree and uninhibited”, which implied a willingness to disregard conventional or respectable sexual mores. Such usage is documented as early as the 1920s, and there is evidence for it before the 20th century,[1] although it was initially more commonly used to imply heterosexually unconstrained lifestyles, as in the once-common phrase “gay Lothario”,[7] or in the title of the book and film The Gay Falcon (1941), which concerns a womanizing detective whose first name is “Gay.” Well into the mid 20th century a middle-aged bachelor could be described as “gay”, indicating that he was unattached and therefore free, without any implication of homosexuality. This usage could apply to women too. The British comic strip Jane was first published in the 1930s and described the adventures of Jane Gay. Far from implying homosexuality, it referred to her free-wheeling lifestyle with plenty of boyfriends (while also punning on Lady Jane Grey).
A passage from Gertrude Stein’s Miss Furr & Miss Skeene (1922) is possibly the first traceable published use of the word to refer to a homosexual relationship[citation needed], though it is not altogether clear whether she uses the word in reference to lesbianism or happiness:
“ They were …gay, they learned little things that are things in being gay, … they were quite regularly gay. ”
The legalization of gays and lesbians might result in deterioration of individual and moral values in a secluded nation like bhutan. On the otherhand,it might fall under the civil liberties clause,where govt is restricted from interfering in the private affairs of individuals’ lives.
At this crossroad,the best method that we should accept is,”DON’T ASK,DON’T TELL”.
Hy Guys!
I’m writeing from Hungary (Middle Europe, EU) I very like Bhutan and I’m interested the culture, the history and the language. Unfortunatly I don’t speak english well. I think the gays have rights. Two men and two women can love each other. This question is not about sex. I support the homosexuality decriminalization than in India made.
In Hungary the gays have a right to registred partnership and I’m pleased with this. I hope that the gays can live happy in Bhutan.
I don’t have a gay friend but there’s no question about gays not existing in Bhutan… Homosexuality is not a choice we are allowed to make. It is just in you by nature, in your biology…. We are like any other person in this world so why wouldn’t there be gay people here? Homophobia is a disease of the ignorant. Ignorance is the enemy of Bhu ‘GNH” tan! We need to wake up!
oops! good news that no homosexuals in Bhutan, glad to read that I am not kidding
i m happyt to be one of the gays…we have right to be what we want…cheers
Interesting and very hot topic for bhutanese who are so much inside the forest, mind and body, despite of the globalization. This fact has to come out anyway and good job Phuntshok, you brought it out and slapped those faces who are ignorantly and stubbornly sticking with JE and TU relationship only. I am not a gay but I can totally understand what they are goin through in this society where people hardly can express their real feelings openly without being scared of some higher authorities from government, manastic body or the good-for-nothings, or even from friends and families. In buddhism, as far as I understand, gives the greatest emphasis on wisdom, so morality and ethic is secondary. And I know one of the 80 mahasiddhas, kukuripa had a dog as his consort. What I want to stress here is that although normal people are not realized beings, they still do have their rights to some extend. And gay culture should be included in it. Only objection for that as I can see is the clash that comes from the religious teachings. But morality and ethics in Buddhism is not a stagnant must-obey thing. Of course if a monk does something like that then it goes against his vow. But if a lay person does it, what harm has it done, especially when they keep the gay relationship out of love for each other. How can that go against buddhism? “Action (or morality) has to depend with time and situation” is what text says, I think now it’s time even for buddhist culture to accept gay relationships as something normal, acceptable. Because Dalai Lama said that “gay is wrong”, in the west, many western buddhist people diverted their religion because they felt that they are not accepted in buddhism. Is that what monks want? Is not wisdom more important than morality? How can you tell a butterfly to change into bird? How can you ask that? I think gay culture should be accepted and I don’t know what the law says but it should be legalized too.
VERY VERY GOOD JOB PHUNTSHOK WANGMO
gays are fun loving, normal, educated peoplejus as u n me, and capable of living a very normal life.. they can even adopt a child or children and live a very normal, healthy respectful life. who and why should anyone point fingers at them and demean them… Its no big deal and yes! we have a gay population in bhutan… started years ago in the monastic bodies and carries on into the mainstream society of today!!!
Unnatural sex? Are you kidding me? To know what is unnatural, we first ought to know what is natural. so what is natural? and why did is it called natural? Is it because “MOST” of the people do it? It something that is practiced more often is to be called as normal, I think all crimes should be called normal since it happens all over the world.
I don’t think anyone can say something is unnatural. For a Bhutanese, in general, marry and having a kid is natural. If you remain single all you life you are pointed at and mocked at.
My point here is there is only one life you get and it is in your hands to decide how to life it. You have the free to breath, and I believe you also have the freedom to live. Be gay or straight, its your pick and be proud of it. As long as you keep you business to yourself , I think we should keep our hands in our own pockets. Lets learn from other countries the result of having animosity against fellow citizens.
RAM OSER.. are u stupid or blind…there are gays in Bhutan.. stop bein such a fool and narrow minded orthodox
hey guys….we have to accept what we are and how we are…gays are not by thier choice but they have been made this way….so I feel they shoud have to the right to live in their own way…many people think that they are gays by thier choice but its not,……so bhutanese society have to think in a better way and accept it…
Well though I am straight .. I fully support gays. I hope one day people of Bhutan understands those who are gay.
Anyone interested in starting a gay bar or a a gay organization in Bhutan? I thought It would be quite cool to have one.
gay bar i guess no one will dare to do that why not a lady open one and i guess
but people need guts to come dont worry i will be the first and regualr customer hahaha
any way its nice idea though
Letro
badboyletro@gmail.com
wanna talk to real gay but mind that not looking for sex mind that .
LIVE AND LET LIVE WEL SAID LETRO BUT GUYS PLAY SAFE USE CONDOM……AND HAVE FUN
Dear Frineds,
Thank you for being so thoughtful and i really respect each and every one of you but as i set LIVE & LET LIVE.
but dont forget to use condom play safe better save than soory.
Badboyletro@gmail.com
Cheerz keep writing
you GAYz are sick and spreading the disease in Bhutan,
PLEASE STOP IT FOR HEAVEN SAKE
hey letro
turn your eyes blind and deaf to pople like kissing ass i mean kiss in kind
keep it up
you gays are better to go from bhutan ,,,,u should go to america becoz they love the male ass hole so plzzzzzzzzzzzzzz get out from drukyul….i know ur bhutan but you made a mistake to born in bhutan …so go from here .plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz letro …
hay guys ,,,i am a gay too from england..i want all gay from bhutan comes to england to suck my dick ….dont distrub bhutaness ppls….bhutan is heaven on earth so only normal peoples live there …u gays come out from beautifull country …let them live peace in bhutan ,understnd u gays ..i love bhutan …..john
well i ve been reading this comments for sometime now…..let me tell all of you tht its o.k to be gay…if tht means joy…….i really appreciate n respect each individuals thoughts….they can do n be what ever they want to in this life……..but i just dont understand why gay?? with all those sexy and beautiful ladies around us……..i think bhutan is full of good looking ladies..they are all over the place…in the office n in colleges…….
4:1 ratio will be wasted….i just wonder what will happen to next generation thing……don’t you guys think tht generation n linage will stop after you……..more over we should be fruitful n multiple……
Hello people.
Well it don’t bother me at all,the people who are commenting in this web is gay too other wise why the fu*k do you thick will check the article.
Leave us alone like i told earlier we are born as one not made or forced.We are human too and have right so just mind on your own business.
I am proud to be gay and like india we are going to be free soon in near future
More than a year has passed since this discussion began. That is pretty amazing. Those who have participated in the conversation from the beginning have all learned something. Hopefully, most have more patience and tolerance with diversity.
Some people do not like cheese from the day they are born. Others love it. Most men like ladies from the day they are born. A few like other guys. Hating someone because you like cheese and they do not is pretty pointless, will not change their taste, and will probalbly only mess with your karma. One must be imperfect to dwell on what they believe are the imperfections of others.
Letro, you have been very courageous. Thanks for that. I would love to meet you one day.
If India can change, even Bhutan can change.
Dear Darika W,
Thank you so much, now i think i should really meet you up.Maile me at badboyletro@gmail.com
Letro
i am what iam n iam proud to b biosex person.i believe it’s god’s gift.live a life in fulness
iam proud of biosex
ummm,
well i think that u people need to have right to leave and rit to do wat u want,i m totally with u…dont worry one day people will accept u all.i m also fighting for that …wait..wait…i m not homosexual….i just feel that u all should be given respect and dignity…y u care for people????come out n be open……….than people will know bot it rather than hiddin in….just do it..
all the best to all
Please openion for them.
Dear sir/Mam Wesel,
It would be lovely if all people were open minded like you.But i am happy the way i m at the moment.Few of my friends know that i like guys and they are okia to your surprise they even take gud care and helping me out to find one kind like me.
Thanks and hope sooner or later people will do accept as we are.
badboyletro@gmail.com
People have patience,
ONe day socity’s gonna accept you….till then hold your breath and be gud guys guys dont forget to use condom.Play safe rest everything would be fine.
Homosexuality is just as normal as heterosexuality is. There ist no reasl difference in it. Both give the ability, to love another person, to get in touch with someone else. So it is something, that makes GNH grow and is absolutely important for the Bhutanese society. Any penalty on being gay should be scratched from Bhutanese laws.
Om man padme hum.
Didi
From this whole drama, I can see only one person who has benefited.
Letro obviously has been advertising his email to all prospective gays. By now am sure he has got many mails from other gays.
Letro is one cunning gay!
Hope not all are like him.
“Unknown” please appreciate the initiative if Letro of bringing this topic on this forum; he is infact helping and supporting all gays/bi here to come out and express their feelings rather than be in closet and live a fake life. If letro is advertising his id, its for good and not for purpose you think in your mind…
Carry on Letro..continue your job..don’t bother about few such people who always are against good….even i want to know more guys who are decent and be friend with them…..suggestions solicited at mdruk09@yahoo.in