Bollywood hottie Celina Jaitley has rescued India’s foremost gay magazine,
Bombay Dost, from obscurity.
The magazine, relaunched recently, went out of print in 2002 due to lack of funds.
Now Celina, who has been a vocal supporter of gay rights and worked with UNDP on the
issue, has put her support and money behind it. “I am very happy that
Bombay Dost is back. It is out in the market and I feel elated to have relaunched it,” she says.
The magazine, says the actress, will have dedicated gay articles along with all other lifestyle features, love corner, men’s health issues and more. Celina sees Bombay Dost as a platform where people from the gay community can bond. She is keen to be a part of the gay parade that’s going to be held next month. “I will surely participate if I am not shooting in South Africa,” says Celina.
In the past, Bombay Dost was sold through roadside vendors only, and that too wrapped in a brown packet, to avoid too much attention. Since her support became known, Celina received hate mail, too. Editor Vikram Phukan applauds her courage and says Bollywood “attracts more than its fair share of queer professionals”, yet few come out for fear of losing social standing and work.
The first relaunched edition has already sold 700 of its 1,000 copies.
—Inputs from Chetna Joshi Bambroo