Prostitution in India - Male Sex Workers

Male Sex Workers

Male prostitution is increasingly visible in India. Gigolo service in India is growing. But there are cases of harassment of client women by gigolos. In Delhi there are as many as twenty "agencies" offering "handsome masseurs" in the classifieds of the newspapers (Hindustan Times). They offer both in and out services, although the facilities are usually very basic. Most western clients are visited at their hotels. Local middle-class Indians are also now using these services. Fees are discussed over the phone, typically INR 1,000 to 3,000 Safe sex and condom use is generally well understood. They are also found in Delhi's emerging gay night life scene, with several "one nighters" at various middle-class night clubs in the city.

In India, male homosexual acts are now legal but male prostitution is all but invisible and not much is currently known about the status of male sex workers. Due to the social stigma attached to homosexuality in India and the lack of legal protection, they tend to face higher risks than females. They are often faced with violence from the police, clients, and are often subjected to extortion from the police in order to carry on with their work. A large percentage of male sex workers are eunuchs or hijrahs. Most know of sexually transmitted diseases through experience, but there are few preventative measures, such as condoms, that are made available to them. Due to their legal status, no regimen of testing for HIV/AIDS or other diseases are made available.