Homosexuality acceptable to 43% of India's youth

We would like to believe India is changing. Live-in relationships have become passe and even courts have passed some progressive judgments on the issue. And homosexuality is slowly but steadily also finding acceptance.

We would like to believe India is changing. Live-in relationships have become passe and even courts have passed some progressive judgments on the issue. And homosexuality is slowly but steadily also finding acceptance.

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Look at the numbers — while only 37% thought it was an acceptable sexual preference last year, the number stands at 43% this year. The change, however, is obvious only in a small-but-growing demographic of youngsters, and mostly in the cities.

"I know that after some initial misgivings, most in my peer group will eventually accept my sexuality. It stops there, however. I just don't have the guts to go home and tell my family. I have relatives who happily poke fun at gays. You think they will accept me?" asks Syed Z, 21. It's the same for live-ins too.

"I live with my girlfriend in Delhi. We intend to marry without letting our parents know that we ever lived together," says Kaushal T, 24.