Circumcision

An article in the Chicago Tribune today talked about the emerging controversy over circumcisions--whether it's an issue of hygiene or mutilation.

When studies began pointing towards a link between AIDS transmission and circumcision, some health agencies began recommending the procedure rather than allowing families to decide based on religion or other personal reasons. The article says the jury is still out, although one study mentioned said circumcision may have nothing to do with preventing AIDS among men having anal sex with men.

A quick jaunt through the Internet suggests that circumcision is less prevalent in China vs. Japan or Korea. But in China, rates are growing as many consider the procedure "modern" and "Western." The topic is controversial to say the least ...

No Gay Southeast Asians in New York Parade

New York: Grand Marshall Shilpa Shetty was cheered on, New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg stopped by for a few minutes, over 30 floats and several marchers including bagpipers from a Swaminarayan Temple in New Jersey made up the India Day Parade on Sunday.


But one group was denied the right to participate. And so the South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association or SALGA held its own protest march down midtown Manhattan.


LGBT activist in New York, Mario D'Penha says, "They just ignored SALGA's petition to march at the parade. We haven't heard of any other group that has been excluded from the parade and so we have to think there's some kind of homophobia that's at work here."


Organisers of the protest say it was particularly ironic that they were excluded from the parade in the Big Apple especially since in India, the Delhi High Court passed a landmark judgment decriminialising homosexuality.


LGBT activist in New York, Priyanka Mitra says, "Not only is it ironic but it's very sad that while India is beginning its first stage of accepting homosexuality, the immigrants and others from the Indian community here are rejecting us. It's sad that as India is progressing, we seem to be regressing."


The Federation of Indian Associations, the organisers of the India Day Parade, refused to be drawn into the controversy, declining to comment on why the Indian queer community was excluded from the parade.

Campit Pool at Saugatuck

Part of Asians and Friends Chicago's trip to the Campit Resort in Saugatuck, Mich., included lounging by the pool. Some of that view from this past Sunday:

Saugatuck 2009

Several members of Asians and Friends Chicago spent the weekend in Saugatuck, Mich., where there are several gay resorts. We joined the West Suburban Gay Association for their trek to Mardi Gras weekend at the Campit Resort.

Market Days: The Videos

Market Days also provided quite a few visuals. Here's a couple of quick videos of the festivities in Chicago this past weekend.

Market Days: The Photos

Every August, Chicago's Halsted Street merchants have a street fair called Market Days. It's one of the biggest street festivals all year, and since it's in the Boys' Town area of the city, it's quite gay. Here are some photos ... more video to come!





Here's one with Stephen from Project Runway, who we saw on the street.

Prep Pic for Hall of Fame

After Dim Sum, Asians and Friends Chicago members pose for a photo that will accompany their application for Chicago's Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.