Imphal, October 28: Despite enduring harsh mockery and inquisitive glare from the common people, the gay community of Manipur are determined to win a respectable place in the society which they consider as essential element in fighting the scourge of HIV/AIDS.

This section of the population having become synonymous with the term �Men having sex with men� or MSM are striving hard to overcome unnatural barriers which they attribute to inconsiderate attitude of the society as was evident when a gay member, speaking at a Guwahati session , strongly advocated change in the society�s outlook to enable them take the HIV/AIDS menace head-on.

Having accepted themselves with the term MSM these people, with their wary and faint-hearted look, have come out to fight HIV and AIDS.

The latest figure of People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in the state as per record of Manipur AIDS control Society (MACS) is 23,856 inclusive of MSM.

Various NGOs in the state under the aegis of MACS and Bill and Melinda Gates foundation funded �Project Orchid� among others have taken up numerous innovative projects to prevent the disease spread amongst the gays.

�Since homosexuality is natural in every gay and the same is being practised, we too are very concerned over the increase in number of HIV infection among MSMs for which we have joined the relevant projects initiated by NGOs,� said one Richard (name changed) during the two-day session a few days back.

�We are born gays and the tendency of homosexuality comes out of our own.

No treatment can cure this urge as we are genetically compelled.

Frankly speaking still I�m having the sexual urge on men and as such we cannot have total abstinence on this practice,� expressed the 26-year-old youth.

This being the case the MSM strongly demand repeal of section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (Unnatural Offence).

The code says 'whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 10 years and shall also be liable to fine�.

(Plea of leniency in sentence for homosexuality is not tenable).

Expressing the quandaries of the MSM while carrying out the programme to fight HIV/AIDS, Richard expressed, �the real men�, mostly youngsters pass derogatory comments apart from harassing them like eve teasing, assaulting and sometimes 'we are caught and tonsured', Richard said.

Since we are looked-down by the society, nobody comes out for our rescue, Richard lamented but confided that against all odds the MSMs are able to precede the mission.

In the project the MSMs find out other MSM and give them effective counselling, conduct condom promotion campaign and treatment of sexually transmitted infections along the line of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) targeted strategies.

According to Maruploi Foundation, one such project funded by UK-based Naj Foundation International, the number of MSMs in the state so far counted had crossed 4000. Owing to ill treatment to the MSM by the society �most of us are unable to complete our formal education and hence we are less educated�, another MSM said at the workshop while demanding that state authorities take up necessary steps to provide micro-enterprises for the MSM so that they would be able to eke out their livelihood.

Most of the MSM staying at Imphal are engaged in running beauty parlours or joining traditional courtyard play groups as female casts.

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