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Establishment of Bombay Dost
The Bombay Dost, India’s first ever LGBT magazine, was first published by Ashok Row Kavi in the early 1990’s. This magazine became the hope for the gay Indians and they felt slightly protected and a part of the Indian society. The magazine would be sold for Rs.15 (premium edition) in the early 1990’s.

Bombay Dost has influenced the life of many people around India. Gays are quite confident about themselves and are now able to stand up for their rights in the societies. At one point of time, Kavi did not have enough funds to keep the magazine going and hence had to stop publishing for a while. But he didn’t give up and he quotes, “We are survivors, we have fought and will continue to do so even as we demand our rights. This is a registered magazine, so we can engage with the Govt.”

Bombay Dost has been resurrected again after a small phase of exhausted status because they cannot attract funding as an openly gay magazine. It’s also because it is caught in a vicious cycle of lack of funding, irregular publication that feeds the uncertainty which advertisers d

o not appreciate.

Currently, there are about 2000 copies of Bombay Dost magazines, but there is a huge number of people reading the magazine. Kavi says that it is surprising when they get feedback about requests for Bombay Dost. “There is a demand for it in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Iran and even the Central Asian Republics.

Due to Kavi and his initiative of the Bombay Dost, the bisexuals, transgender, gays and lesbians are able to stand up for their rights and fight for equality and visibility. This is the biggest establishment of Bombay Dost.

Maybe, a day will arrive when they finally manage to get over the gap that exists between LGBT and the “normal people” and establish themselves as a firm regular news magazine that genuinely becomes a consistent and clear voice of the LGBT communities in India.