Indian Mother Looks To Arrange a Marriage for her Gay Son

<p>Indian culture has a long history of ‘arranged marriages’ and like any other Indian mother advancing into her silver years, Padma Lyer wants to see her son happily married and settled as well. However what makes her quest different than all the others is the fact that she isn’t looking for a bride, but a groom for a son.</p> <p> </p><p><img src="http://www.thegayuk.com/communities/8/004/009/928/388/images/4621108899.jpg" width="380" height="354" alt="NDTV.com of India" title="NDTV.com of India"/></p> <p></p><p>In today’s <a href="http://ndtv.com/">NDTV News</a> from India (yes, we trail the world to bring you the latest gay stories) they report how Padma, in a groundbreaking move, placed a gay matrimonial advertisement for her son, which met with an outpouring of support on social media, with many calling the ad the first of its kind in the country.</p><p></p><p>Her son Harrish Lyer is a well-known name in Mumbai's LGBT community, and often in the spotlight as an LGBT activist and as a director at the NGO, United Way of Mumbai. One of his friends commented that his very strong personality often intimidates other men making it harder for him to find a partner, but that he is 36 years his mother is anxious that he finds a partner.</p><p></p><p>The advert she placed for Harish read, ‘Seeking, 25-40, well-placed, animal-loving, vegetarian groom for my son (36, 5'11), who works with an NGO. Caste no bar '. </p><p></p><p>It was met with a lot of resistance in the beginning, but with replies flooding in for the ad now the mother-son duo hopes to complete their search soon. </p><p></p><p>As for Harrish’s take on it all? Well, he says that if a suitable match is found, he intends to wed his partner as per the traditional Indian rituals.</p><p></p><p> "I guess my wedding will be a vegan ceremony, and will have a mix of the best customs of all religions and castes," said Harrish, adding that a lot would depend on the groom and his preferences as well.</p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.twitter.com/RogerWalkerDack">@RogerWalkerDack</a></p>