Tagged Under: STI/HIV

  • This illustration is a black and white sketch created with pen ink on art paper. It is a stylistic representation of two human faces overlapping each other, an oversized depiction of the coronavirus in full black shown below the faces, and a dove as a symbol of hope placed on the top left of the sketch adjacent to the faces. The overlapping of the faces signifies intimacy. At the same time, the mouths in both the faces seem to be covered with hands as a precaution against coronavirus infection. The background to the main sketch is filled with small flowers, leaves and abstract artistic strokes. Artwork credit: Rafiquel Haque Dowjah
    Apr '20

    Sexual intimacy and risk of coronavirus infection

    By Dr. A. Sathish Kumar, Rafiquel Haque Dowjah

    Dr. A. Sathish Kumar provides guidance on playing it safe sexually during and after the countrywide lockdown imposed to counter the coronavirus pandemic

  • Quote: Some people (irrespective of their gender and sexuality) are never likely to shed their biases against queer or other marginalized groups; whereas there are others, however small in number, who need to be applauded for their willingness to reach out beyond boundaries (ironically like the coronavirus itself). We might as well give a quiet, heartfelt applause for the second lot!
    Mar '20

    Coronavirus outreach news from ‘Varta’

    By Pawan Dhall

    An audio roundup of how queer individuals, support groups and their allies are helping people face survival challenges thrown up by the coronavirus pandemic in India

  • This first (main) photograph shows a bespectacled and curly haired Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta smiling into the camera. It is daytime, and the photograph has been taken outdoors. Behind Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta the river Thames and a few buildings of London can be seen. There is a bridge across the river and a small ship in the waters. Towards the right, a few people are walking on a rather gravelly river bank. Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta is wearing a brown jacket and a scarf with a checks print. The photograph is accompanied by a quote of Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta, which says: “I wasn’t planning to stand as a parliamentary candidate. But when Brexit happened, it was absolutely devastating for an internationalist like me. I have made England my home for the last eight years, and as an academic I also think it’s a civic duty for us to be engaging with the public. That was the reason I threw my hat into the ring . . .” Photo courtesy Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta
    May '17

    Voice of reason with Kolkata connect in UK polls

    By Pawan Dhall

    Comparative literature studies to researching and teaching gender, sexuality and digital media; Kolkata to London; and now a step into the UK general elections arena on a Labour Party ticket...

  • This first (main) photograph shows the book launch ceremony during the event ‘Books, Films and IDAHOBIT 2017’ organized at the Alliance Francaise du Bengale Park Street centre in Kolkata on May 4, 2017. Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta, Pawan Dhall and Stephane Amalir (standing from left to right) can be seen holding the two books launched, smiling and facing the cameras in the audience. The books launched were ‘Digital Queer Cultures in India – Politics, Intimacies and Belonging’ and ‘Social Media, Sexuality and Sexual Health Advocacy in Kolkata, India’. The first was authored by Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta, Lecturer in Media and Creative Industries at Loughborough University, UK. The second was co-authored by Dr. Rohit K. Dasgupta and Pawan Dhall, queer activist and Founding Trustee, Varta Trust. Stephane Amalir is Director, Alliance Francaise du Bengale. In the background is a screen projection of a graphic highlighting the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Photo credit: Arunabha Hazra
    May '17

    Digital media, queer lives and ‘Indian-ness’

    By Kaustav Manna, Arunabha Hazra

    Two books on the relationship between digital media and queer lives were launched recently in Kolkata. The event was part of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia observations....

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    Sep '16

    Activism cornerstones

    By Mark Heywood, Kaushik Gupta

    Irrespective of context, Mark Heywood’s article Activism and Civil Society: What it is and What it’s Not will serve as a good ‘refresher’ for activists of all hues.

  • This photograph has been taken near the venue of the ‘21st International AIDS Conference’ held at Durban, South Africa from July 18-22, 2016. A large red ribbon, the symbol of HIV and AIDS awareness, stands on a semi-spherical structure under a bright blue sky covered with white clouds. The semi-sphere has colourful engravings of red, blue and green, with much smaller round Braille semi-spheres at various places. Closest to the structure is a park with some visitors sitting on benches; a man in a red shirt can be seen leaning across the red and ochre boundary of the park, while someone wearing a blue shirt and white pants can be seen in a distance to the left. Going further left, a two-storeyed parking enclosed space with red skillion roofs and faded yellow walls with a capital ‘P’ sign can be seen. To the further right of the park, a walkway with a netted roof runs across to the centre supported by thin black pillars at similar intervals. Behind all of these, lie sky-rocketing buildings, five to the left and three to the right. Photo credit: Pawan Dhall
    Aug '16

    Lens on AIDS 2016

    By Pawan Dhall

    Pawan Dhall does a photo round-up of the ‘21st International AIDS Conference’ held at Durban, South Africa from July 18-22, 2016 The international biennial on HIV (human immuno-deficiency virus) and AIDS...

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