CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
A rare sex museum in Mumbai, India's teeming financial capital, is drawing hundreds of prostitutes and their regular clients who say they learn more about HIV/AIDS from its graphic exhibits than staid lectures on safe sex.
Antarang, which means "intimate" in Hindi, is a one-room exhibition of nude statues, models of the human anatomy, and illustrations near a well-known red light district in Mumbai. And it is India's only sex museum, according to its management.
Devoid of the glamour of sex museums of Amsterdam or New York City, Antarang greets a visitor with a "lingam," a Hindu phallic-shaped symbol worshipped as one of the representations of Lord Shiva, Kama Sutra verses, and wooden and plastic models showing the act of conception and child birth as well as descriptions of various sexual diseases.
"A sex museum is a better place to learn about sex and everything related to it," M.G. Vallecha, the chief of Antarang, entry to which is free, told Reuters.
The museum is run by the state government in an effort to combat HIV and AIDS in India. There are an estimated 5.7 million people infected with HIV, more than any other country, according to U.N. figures.
Experts say that number could quadruple by 2010 as many people are still reluctant to discuss safer sex openly.
Authorities all over India try various innovative ways, including street plays and "condom parties," to spread awareness about sexual diseases.
Mumbai is not only India's biggest and most cosmopolitan city but is also home to millions of migrants who leave their families in villages to search for jobs.
Antarang, whose floor tiles are painted to look like sperm, was opened in 2003. It became popular among prostitutes and some of their clients after health workers began taking them there.
"A major bulk of our thousands of visitors every year are sex workers and health volunteers," Vallecha said.
Some sex seekers also visit. In India, many prostitutes act as mistresses for one regular client who pays for her upkeep. They can often develop close relationships and sometimes visit the museum together, officials said.
"At first, sex workers coming to the museum are shy. But slowly they discover new things about something they thought they knew all about," said Manish Pawar, a health worker who has brought hundreds of prostitutes and their clients to the museum.
Many of the sex workers say the museum has changed their lives by teaching them about the need for safe sex.
"When they told us about AIDS, we didn't understand much, but now after visiting the museum it is much clearer to us," said Jyoti, a middle-aged prostitute who gave only one name.
"Now we tell clients, 'No condom--no sex.'"
Authorities said they have few ordinary tourists.
"The area where the museum is located is stigmatized, and even if [tourists] want to come, they don't because they don't want to be seen in a red light district," said Nirupa Borges, who helps run Antarang. "We have some school and college students, but we would like more members of mainstream society."
Authorities are planning to open another sex museum in a northern suburb, away from the red light district, to attract a wider audience.
"This museum is serving its purpose very well. We need more sex museums like this," Borges said. (Reuters)
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: The Daily
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Latest Stories
Over 90% of trans youth live in states pushing anti-trans legislation: report
April 23 2024 10:08 PM
George Santos pulls out of New York congressional race
April 23 2024 7:04 PM
Biden will hammer Trump over abortion bans in Florida speech
April 23 2024 5:00 AM
Tristan Snell, who brought down Trump University, sees conviction in hush money case
April 22 2024 7:36 PM
Joe Biden admin marks Earth Day with major environmental initiatives
April 22 2024 4:18 PM
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: 'We want to end' trans and gender nonconforming teachers
April 22 2024 4:13 PM
Nonbinary 17-year-old killed two years after being reported missing
April 22 2024 3:46 PM