Indian police censor gay photo exhibit by Canadian artist

BY ROB SALERNO – A photo exhibit by Indian-Canadian artist Sunil Gupta was censored by Indian police following an anonymous complaint that the pictures are obscene.

The exhibit, titled Sun City and Other Stories: Paris-San Francisco-Delhi, was on display in the New Delhi Alliance Française and opened to a positive response March 23, according to The Hindu. It consisted of 16 still colour photos taken in Paris, highlighting the city’s gay life.

Following a complaint, the Delhi police sent in an inspector to speak with the Alliance management. Apparently, the Alliance decided to close the exhibit following the inspector’s visit, although an official with the Alliance claims that the decision was made in consultation with Gupta.

Gupta claims he was told by a third party that the exhibition would be shut down.

One of the obscene photos from Sun City.

Xtra has previously reported about Gupta’s work in Canada and his recently published book, Queer.

India is the world’s largest democracy by population. Although unofficial discrimination is still common, gays recently won a court case decriminalizing gay sex, which has resulted in slowly changing attitudes on the subcontinent and has led India to emerge as a growing gay tourist destination.

Unfortunately, a challenge to the decriminalization case has been brought before India’s Supreme Court. The court recently decided to reserve its judgment in the case, meaning a decision will not be rendered for several months.

Rob Salerno is a playwright and journalist whose writing has appeared in such publications as Vice, Advocate, NOW and OutTraveler.

Keep Reading

Job discrimination against trans and non-binary people is alive and well

OPINION: A study reveals that we have a long way to go to reach workplace equality for trans and non-binary people

The new generation of gay Conservative sellouts

OPINION: Melissa Lantsman’s and Eric Duncan’s refusals to call out their party’s transphobia is a betrayal of the LGBTQ2S+ community

Over 300 anti-LGBTQ2S+ bills have been introduced this year. This doesn’t mean we should panic

OPINION: While it’s important to watch out for threats, not all threats are created equally. Some of these bills will die a natural death

Xtra’s top LGBTQ2S+ stories of the year

The best and brightest—even most bewildering—stories from a back catalogue brimming with insight