Film maker Onir joins AAP, says only party to stand with gender minorities

Filmmaker Onir, who goes by single name, has officially joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) looking forward to what he termed as a party that is ready to stand with gender minority community.

Filmmaker Onir, who goes by single name, has officially joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) looking forward to what he termed as a party that is ready to stand with gender minority community.

“Happy to be officially supporting AAP. A party that supports the demand to repeal IPC 377 that discriminates the LGBT community and is a violation of human rights and our constitutional rights. This is hoping for a more progressive nation that lets people love,” Onir announced on his Facebook page on Monday.

Onir has been active for quite sometime on the issue and had taken a public stand demanding the government to repeal section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (which considers homosexuality as criminal).

The film director, editor and producer, is best known for his films such as ‘My Brother … Nikhil’, one of the first mainstream Hindi films to deal with the subject of AIDS and same-sex relationships.

The filmmaker visited the AAP’s Hanuman Road office on Sunday and held a “long discussion” with Dilip Pandey, party’s Delhi secretary to understand the party’s position on the issue of gender minorities.

“Today it is important for a party to stand up and fight for the (LGBT) community’s rights,” Onir told HT, and added, “Also, I feel this is a party with lots of educated people, this party comprises people who are ready to empower people.”

Asked if the party had chalked out a role for Onir, such as giving him a ticket for the impending Lok Sabha polls, Pandey said: “He is a supporter, not a ticket seeker.”