U.N. tries to convince India gay is OK with Bollywood music video

YouTube/UN Human Rights

U.N. tries to convince India gay is OK with Bollywood music video
(Image credit: YouTube/UN Human Rights)

In a country that strictly prohibits gay sex, the United Nations hopes its new Bollywood-themed campaign diminishes some of India's rampant homophobia. The organization's Human Rights Office today unveiled a two-and-a-half-minute music video featuring a famous Bollywood actress. It's the U.N.'s first attempt at bringing Free and Equal, its LGBT rights initiative, to India.

Titled "The Welcome," the clip tells the story of a guy bringing his boyfriend home to meet his family. It stars Bollywood actress Celina Jaitly and features choreography from Longinus Fernandes, the man behind Slumdog Millionaire's memorable dance moves.

Jaitly said gay people are often represented as a caricature in Indian culture. "Either it is making fun of gay people or it is extremely serious, related only to HIV," she said. "We have to move away from stereotypes and present a more accurate image of the LGBT community." Watch the video below. --Jordan Valinsky

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Jordan Valinsky is the lead writer for Speed Reads. Before joining The Week, he wrote for New York Observer's tech blog, Betabeat, and tracked the intersection between popular culture and the internet for The Daily Dot. He graduated with a degree in online journalism from Ohio University.