Read what others have said..

jo - sydney, australia
i've finally got access to bbc asian network from a friends house back home in sydney, after coming across the booth at womad reading last year in august (whilst travelling).we just listened to 'god knows i gay´, being queer and Indian in australia, it's so valuable to hear a quality length, complex piece on the experience of living gay and asian in the uk. i can personally relate to the experience of coming out to family with all its repercussions, positive and negative. i will mention this piece to my queer asian friends who i imagine like me, will garner strength from these stories in the face of continuing ignorance and homophobia.

ZAK BIRMINGHAM
im response to ahmad in manchester, i totally agree, I am gay male, however i studied islam to an extream point, and i totally agree, YOU CAN NOT BE GAY AND MUSLIM, so please guys, dont say gay and muslim.. xxx, ur either gay or muslim, in my case, im gay... and i belive in 1 god,....

Paul Thompson, Sheffield
I am gay, but i don't know how to tell anyone. I pretend to be straight infront of my work colleagues, but i think deep down they know the truth. I am a proud but scared gay.

.....
one thing i wish everyone would understand, being gay isn't a choice, it's the way your born!!!

zain oldham
hi people i am a gay azn muslim and i have heard the program and i think thr needs to be some thing done its 2007 and me and people like me havin problems

Anon, Leicester
Im not gay myself but i dont think there's any thing wrong being gay. I mean, you kinda find out about your sexuality when you are teenager. Its very confusing time and at that time you can't help the way feel about people and you can't repress those feelings...Then people will really will turn out strange... I believe it's in the genes soo its even harder to come out if your family is religious. I think whatever 'rocks your boat' Go for it!!

Anon, Leicester
Im not gay myself but i dont think there's any thing wrong being gay. I mean, you kinda find out about your sexuality when you are teenager. Its very confusing time and at that time you can't help the way feel about people and you can't repress those feelings...Then people will really will turn out strange... I believe it's in the genes soo its even harder to come out if your family is religious. I think whatever 'rocks your boat' Go for it!!

proud to be gay, london
great show!the religious leaders should focus on fostering understanding not divisionary tactics

randeep singh bristol
great program. inspiring stories and very sad too. time the asian community wakes up to reality.

Anon
my husband is gay but is refusing to come out, he wants me to continue living a lie as I think he is ashamed and fearful of the reaction that he will get from family and the community. i just want him to be happy, although i feel that my life has being shattered, and i have no one to turn to for support, i have contemplated suicide and the only thing that is stopping me are my two children. the irony is that my husband has a cousin who is gay and has come out, and he is receiving the full support of his family, yet my husband will not make the move.

Aryan, Leicester
This documentary had opened my eyes to a wider world of sexuality. More power to people like Ibraheem and Chameli. It takes courage to speak out - to parents, to immediate society and put in an activist front to combat homophobia. i truly took away so much from this.

Rejew
Hi..My name is Reijew from California.I just could not accept anyone in my family is Gay or will become gay. It is not acceptable. oh,by the way, I' not a Muslim but I am afraid of anyone in my family would become Gay. I think that is just a choice whether you want to be straight or gay.

Ashish Khanna
good theme and hopefully many more asians will learn from the message of chameli and others.

ahmad Manchester
I aint gay and neida do i have nyfin against gay ppl.. bt its jst wen ppl say dey are gay muslims it makes no sense to me... you cant be a muslim and be gay and dats a bottom line it cannot be debated.. you are either gay or u r a muslim.. have your pick..i have nothing against gay ppl.. you wna be gay.. or if u are gay.. go ahead as they say "MUBARAK HO".. bt jst pls dnt call urself a gay muslim..o and dat accounts for lesbians aswell.. and i havnt gt nyfin against lesbians for sure... we cn do wiv sum more of dem in our socieity i think :D :p

Martin D'Rosario, Kolkata, India
As a British born Indian. I really reject the whole concept of articulating stories about any subject (be it Gay Issues, Honour, or Racism) using the term "Asian". It really is an out-dated concept. I am of Indian descent, I am straight, and if I have a friend who is of Indian descent and is Gay/Bisexual, their national ethnic indentity of origin would not change. I am completely for self-expressionism in terms of sexuality, but let us be accurate when defining and discussing communities. Perhaps Asian Network's name should be changed to the South Asian Network and issues discussed on a national-origin basis. I would be happy to contribute to an Indian forum or online debate.

unknown-location to scaryed to enclose
hi, am a Muslim girl and it very hard to be open about my sexuality especially with the pressure from religion, peers and family.I find it extermly hard to live the life which i want and not the life which is expected from me. in the long term i believe that the barrier makes individuals to rebel from their parents and religion, not that i have!thanks

Name Withheld, Gran Canaria, Canary Is, Spain
Hi, Though i am not British born, I am a European born Asian, and am bisexual. Tough as it already has been to accept oneself, I guess due to all our social and cultural inputs and upbringing, It is even tougher to come out openly in society, specially before the Asian community more so. I am 35 and I am unable to talk about it to even any of my brothers/sisters, leave alone parents or even close friends. I think Asian cultures and values that are inculcated to us, concentrate a lot on the "what will they say.....", "what will the neighbours say..." , "what will the others say...", and this happens right from a very early age. eg. "how can you wear that shirt and trousers, what will people say?...". I think this really marks us for the rest of our lives in whatever we do or don´t, and if it is concerning a matter such as coming out about ones sexual orientation, then it becomes even harder.What really makes me sad with myself is that the alternative that seems to remain for me is to lead a double life, but it makes me hate myself.Anyway, regards and courage to all.

Deh Lion, London
Why is Asian Network obsessed with the dramarama around Gaysians? ...they've always existed in society, more n more are prepared to come out - so why is this topic debated to death - and always from a miserable perspective...only the weak people go and have MOC's - as an out Gaysian I find these people pathetic and have no sympathy whatsoever...if people have trouble accommodating their sexuality within their religion - then drop the religion and go get a life !

Rahul Rana, Surrey
Are non-Asians really finding a new found acceptance? I don't think so. Maybe they're not getting their teeth kicked in for openly showing affection, but if they think they are accepted by mainstream British society then they are completely off the mark.British society is predominantly conservative and insular, introvert and obsessed with societal norms (sometimes known as British Values and British character). Just because there are 700 screaming kids celebrating gay Big Brother housemate entries, certainly doesn't represent the large majority who think homosexuality is (if of a religious persuasion) a sin, or just plain vile and disgusting.