'A Totally Homophobic, Hetero-Patriarchal Viewpoint'

Text of the e-mail appeal circulated by Humjinsi, LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenderedpeople) activists. 

This is an urgent and serious matter.The film Girfriend portrays Isha Koppikar as a sexually abused, violent, obsessive, killer, psychopath lesbian. The filmclaims to address the issue of 'lesbianism' but operates from a totally homophobic, hetero- patriarchalviewpoint. It will do unspeakable damage for the movement and simply put, it is downright dangerous for thoseof us trying to survive in an already hateful world. The movie tears away the anonymity of lesbian existence;the word lesbian is actually used in the film and the image created is a ghastly and revolting one. Thecharacter is not a lesbian, she is a woman hunter, a man hater, there are so many things in the film that areabsolutely despicable that one cannot even begin to describe them.

The absolute folly is that this movie is going to show in movie theatres all across the country. So whilethe film capitalizes on the lesbian angle (there is even a sleazy bedroom scene) the axe comes down so fastand so hard on the lesbian (she dies a gruesome death, which is obviously retribution) that there is not evena sliver of doubt. Women who hate men become lesbians- who are bloodthirsty, abusive killer- who finally bringon their own annihilation.

We have to take a stand and make a statement against this film and we have to come up with strategies tomake a strong protest. We urge all of you to make time and suffer through the film so that we arewell aware of what we are up against.

We urge everyone to come together. We will continue posting minutes of every meeting and action taken.

For Hamjinsi
Shruti, Tejal, Sheba, Aditi