The middle class accounting student on condition of anonymity has confessed to Boston Globe that he is in love with an Indian gay whom he contacted through internet, But knowing the ground realities he knows that he would never be able to live freely with him, neither in Pakistan nor in India both the places where being homosexual is a punishable crime. In Pakistan the crime is punishable by whipping, imprisonment or even death.

He runs a paid website through internet cafes, where it has now 600 registered members with 302 as gays, 241 as bisexual an rest as transgenders. He is afraid to be open about his condition because he knows fully well that he will be ostracized by his own family, the society will come afterwards.

Lamenting the fact that he was born that way and did not have any choice or say in the matter, still he has to lead a double standard life or live like a criminal.

But the shocking report in Boston Globe says that as per the social activists and observers taking boys for sexual exploitation by older men is common practice in Pakistan may it for revenge or abuse especially in villages. These boys when left as destitute are forced to move to the cities where they solicitate customers, a fact well known in the social circles including families.

But there are people who are bold enough to declare their gay status. Faisal Ahmed, a Pakistani American founded AL-Fatiha a Washington based organization in 1998 for Muslims Homosexuals.

Jallaluddin Ahmed Khan, a 27 old banker in Pakistan has started a blogging site to pour out his woes as a gay member of straight society. He says that nowhere in Pakistan be it Quetta or Peshawar even Karachi letting know your sexual preference is socially acceptable but everyone is aware of this fact. He praises Karachi as being more open minded.

But as he rightly says Homosexuality is religiously, socially unacceptable in Pakistan. There is one plus point in favor of Pakistani gay community is not divided into strong sub-groups as in the rest of the world.

But belonging to old school, I personally feel that some things are better left in a closed closet. Of course gays have full right to lead a free life but please let us not be so open about it, because openness without restriction leads to corruption especially on young impressionable minds. To legalize it will not be a right step.