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.
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.