The GayBombay Sunday Meet on Spirituality

Date: 19th Feb 2006

Time: The Meet begins at 5:30 p.m. and continues for half an hour at the restaurant. We then move on to another venue closeby at 6:00 p.m.

SUBJECT: Spirituality

Planned structure of the meet

Venue:
JATC (Just Around The Corner), Bandra. (We will then move
to another venue closeby).

how to get there

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As gay men we have a unique and wonderful spirituality to share with each other. A  spirituality that is, in part, due to our gayness but also because we have all experienced oppression of who we are as
gay men.

The aim of the meeting is to share with each other what we have found both helpful and not helpful for our spiritual development; to be a source of encouragement to each other in our own life journeys.

The following is the planned structure of the discussion:

1. What is spirituality?

2. Why "Gay" Spirituality?

3. GOD: Our relationship with the idea of a divine force.

3. COMING OUT: Does spirituality help/hinder it?

4. FAITH: What role does it play in our lives?

5. EXISTENTIALISM: Main aisa kyon hoon? Why am I on planet Earth?
Religious concepts like heaven, hell and salvation. Do we feel we are blessed for being different? That our sexuality is a gift? How do we feel about being told that we are "going to hell" or "being impure"? Do we see our gayness as an asset to spirituality or a liability?

6. SEX: How does it affect our sex life? Our attitude to sex? To celibacy?

7. DATING: Can we date "deeper" by exploring someone's spiritual side? How does that work?

8. RELATIONSHIPS: How does one's faith relate to finding love? Settling down with a  same-sex partner? Does spirituality matter when we are already so marginalized?

9. COMMUNITY: Can we benefit from a richer sense of family and community? Can we create a  more affectionate and loving gay world? How do we contribute to society and the queer community?

10. HEALING: Can we heal the wounds that homophobia, fear, ridicule, shame, guilt and hurt have caused us?

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Directions:

At Bandra Station, on the WEST side, take a rickshaw to Turner Road; at Turner Road take a right at Tawaa Restaurant (you will see ICICI Bank on your left after the turn). Keep going straight for about two minutes; you will see the big blue signboard of 'JUST AROUND THE CORNER' on the left.

If you are coming from Linking Road take the very next left turn from the first petrol pump which leads to the Flying Machine Store. On driving down the crossing of two lanes you will see a huge blue coloured board with "JUST AROUND THE CORNER" written onto it.

You can also take a bus going down Turner Road (Khar Station bus or Chumm Village bus). Get off near Tawaa Restaurant and walk to JATC in 5 minutes.

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Note :
1. Ensure that you get to JATC before 6:00 p.m.
2. You have to be above the age of 18 to attend this event.
3. GB as a support group, has created this comfort/safe space for
gays, many of whom may be "newbies" (those still coming to terms
with their sexuality and who have mustered courage to come for such
a meeting for the first time). So we request you to be sensitive to
the comfort levels of others attending the meeting and behave and
dress accordingly.
4. To identify the group look for someone wearing a BLACK cap.

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This event is organised by: http://www.gaybombay.org
Right of admission reserved.
For further details email: events@gaybombay.org

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