India's pink economy

From night-clubs to publishing, the decriminalisation of homosexuality in India is facilitating a new, multi-million dollar niche market. As India’s gay community emerges from the closet, following a court order decriminalising homosexuality last year, a small group of pioneers is staking claim to the so-called pink economy that in the United States is worth an annual $640 billion. There are no estimates of the size of India’s gay economy, but a lucrative market for gayfocused ventures is not far from reach, given that global tourist hotspot, India, has 70 million homosexuals. In New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, trail blazing entrepreneurs are chasing the gay business.Since July, over 15 bars across New Delhi have hosted gay events, up from just one event at one bar a week two years ago. India’s first gay-products store, Azaad Bazaar in Mumbai, has seen a year of growth, penetrating mainstream stores across the country with its merchandise.Queer-Ink.com, India’s first gay online bookstore, is exploring publishing titles in the next 6 to 8 months.
But for those pioneers, a largely conservative society and ingrained social stigma presents a bigger barrier than legislation to luring gay business. Gay businesses in India operate not only on the strength of the local economy but also on the goodwill and solidarity of global consumption by homosexuals.