An intriguing newspaper advertisement from a 57-year-old mother has sparked controversy In India. Padma Iyer from Mumbai had her ad posted on a daily newspaper imitating the style of traditional matrimonials placed by parents in pages of India's newspapers. Only the ad called for a male marriage martner for her gay son.
According to AOL, Harish Iyer, the son of Padma said it wasn't easy to post such a gay matrimonial ad because homosexuality is illegal in their country.
"Seeking 25-40, well-placed, animal-loving, vegetarian GROOM for my SON (36, 5'11") who works with an NGO," said the advertisement posted in the Mumbai tabloid Mid-Day.
This Guy’s Mom Wanted To Find Him A Husband, So He Placed India’s First Gay “Groom Wanted” Ad https://t.co/TwSZYejSy3 pic.twitter.com/p9yjmM5iHM
— BuzzFeed India (@BuzzFeedIndia) May 21, 2015
Harish, a Mumbai-based gay rights activist, as well as a mother, received commendations in social media for breaking taboos in the largely conservative country.
Harish told BuzzFeed India that the matrimonial was prompted by the normal wish any mother has to see her son settle down. He has already received six responses.
The had been rejected by the country's most popular national English daily, The Times of India, as well as the Mumbai tabloid DNA.
India's Supreme Court re-criminalized homosexulaity in 2013, a move the United Nations characterized as a "significant step backwards for India".
