Mapping exercise: assessing the situational needs of MSM population in Lahore

 

MAPPING

 

 

1. Introduction:

 

The mapping exercise was undertaken as part of the situational needs assessment of men who have sex with men (MSM) in the city of Lahore.  This mapping was done over a period of 3 weeks.

 

2. Objectives:

 

The objectives of the mapping exercise were following:

 

a.      Approximate estimates of men who have sex with men in the city of Lahore (those who are accessible and visible at cruising sites and pick up points)

b.      Approximate estimate of sub identities within the larger MSM group such as Zenanas/Kotis/Moorats, Khusras, Garya/Mard/Pucca dost, Chavas, Lifters, Masseurs, Ghomar, Mummy Daddy, College boys  etc.

c.      Residential concentration of these groups in the city of Lahore

d.      Occupational concentration of these groups such as cruising sites, pick up points, social spaces etc.

e.      Approximate estimates of spaces used by MSM for cruising, pick up and sex

f.        Approximate estimates of health care facilities accessible and accessed by these groups for their health care.

 

3. Methodology:

 

Following was the methodology used for mapping:

 

1.      Municipal mapping of the city was used for determining the names and numbers of shrines, parks, bridges, bus stations, railway stations and shopping areas of Lahore city.

2.      Project mapping of Vision was used as a guideline to identify the MSM concentrated areas (residentially as well as occupationally) on the larger city map.

3.      Three teams were made, each team consisted of 3 community (MSM) members and a resource person from Vision.  Each community member was interviewed separately by Vision’s resource person as a key informant.

4.      This was done to validate the already identified spaces generally used by MSM in the city of Lahore for living, cruising, pick up and sex.

5.      Each team selected random sites to visit and observe the activity at different hours of afternoon and evening as well as different days of week.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Findings:

 

4.1 Shrines as cruising areas and pick up points:

 

Out of more than one hundred large and small shrines, there are seventeen shrines in Lahore that are mostly used by MSM as cruising areas.  Three of these seventeen are used by MSM on any given night for cruising, remaining fourteen are one night a week i.e. Thursday, cruising spots.

 

However, all seventeen become cruising spots for MSM on the lunar 11th of each month. 

 

The numbers of MSM present at such shrines would vary both according to the size of the shrine and its following.  The three mentioned above have a big following and are spread out on large pieces of land too.

 

The MSM populations frequenting these shrines are Zenanas, Khusras, Double ralas, Ghomars, Chavas, College boys, Masseurs and Garyas.

 

4.2 Health facilities around these shrines:

 

The most used health facilities by the MSM are around one of the biggest and well known shrine in Lahore.  Following are the numbers of these health facilities within 2 mile radius of this shrine:

 

Sanyasi = 8

 

Pansari = 12+

 

Private hospitals = 1

 

Government hospitals = 2

 

Hakeems = 3

 

Doctors = 5+

 

Pharmacies =20 + 

 

4.3 Parks as cruising areas, pick up points and sexual spaces:

 

Out of several there are three parks in Lahore that were identified as MSM cruising areas, pick up points and to some extent sexual space by the community representatives. 

 

One is a very old historical park that after sunset has areas that are not too well lighted.  Reportedly these areas are very convenient for oral sex, masturbation and discharge through body rubbing.

 

Observations after on-site visit by the mapping team revealed that the park was frequented by families and did have areas that had bushes and were dark.  There was evidence of men sitting in couples in those areas or just lying down close to each other but at the same time there were opposite sex couples too sharing the same space.  Thus, the park being used for oral sex, masturbation and discharge through body rubbing was a strong probability  

 

However, there is vigilance in the park.  Armed guards are patrolling the park after sunset.  Therefore anything more than discharge through the above mentioned means may not be possible.

 

Since the park closes down at 8 in the winters and 10 in the summers, it is during the summer months that the park is more used as a cruising, pick up and a sexual space.

 

The second park is close to a major MSM cruising area in the city.  It is a well spread  out park adjoining the main bus station of Lahore.  It is again a park that closes down at night time.  The timings are different in summer months and it is in the summer months that this park is a major sexual space for massage boys. 

 

In summer evenings men get their bodies pressed by masseurs in this park.  Discharge during the massage is common.  Masseurs are the only population visible in the park as it is a park that is well lighted, and frequented by families from the walled cities.  It is a spread out park without any trees.  There are bushes but they are also properly manicured and are not too tall.

 

The third park is close to the main railway station of Lahore.  This park is smaller in size but a very convenient cruising area and a pick up point.  It is in close proximity of cheap hotels.  Generally men meet and pick up men from this park.  There is a large visibility of small boys in this park especially after sunset.  These boys often have oil bottles for massage in their hands or are roaming around with wooden boxes for polishing shoes.

 

The team observed a high volume of interaction between these young boys and older men and eventually the older men being followed by these boys from the park.

 

There are other MSM populations such as zenanas, chavas and masseurs in this park too, however any sexual activity except discharge through massage is not possible in this park as it is very small and has no tree or bush in it.  This park was categorized as a major pick up point by the MSM population.

 

 

 

 

 

4.4 Health facilities around the parks:

 

The first park has following health facilities within one mile radius:

 

Government teaching hospital = 1

 

Pharmacies = 8

 

The second park is within one miles radius of the health facilities mentioned in 4.2.

 

The third park has following health facilities within one mile radius:

 

Hakeem = 1

 

Private doctor (male) = 1

 

Private doctor (female) = 1

 

Pharmacies = 4

 

Homeopath doctors = 3

 

4.5 Bus Station:

 

The main bus station of Lahore city is also considered a cruising spot.  It is also a space for sexual activity.  The team observed that there were lots of empty buses parked at night time and could provided convenient space for any kind of sexual activity. 

 

Reportedly penetrative sex inside the empty buses is quite frequent.  There was a noticeable number of masseurs, zenanas and chavas at the bus station when the mapping team visited the site on three different days and time.

 

4.6    Health facilities around the bus station:

 

The health facilities mentioned in 4.2 are within one mile radius of the bus station.

  

 

 

 

 

4.7    Railway station:

 

The main railway station is also reported as a sex space.  The team observed that there were plenty of empty trains parked at the station.  The compartments were dark and provided a safe space for all kind of sexual activity.  The MSM community members in the team reported a high frequency of sexual experience in the dark compartments.  However the only visible population was that of masseurs at the more distant and deserted platforms during all the three visits of the team.

 

4.8 Health facilities around the railway station:

 

The health facilities mentioned in 4.4 for the third park are within half a mile radius of the railway station.

 

4.9 Bridges:

 

A canal goes through the city of Lahore and on both sides of the canal are roads for traffic.  Each intersection has a bridge.  Three different bridges (intersections) on this canal are known to be famous MSM pick up points.  The MSM populations that use these intersection for getting picked up are Masseurs, zenanas, ghomar, chavas, college boys.

 

4.9.1       Health care facilities close to the bridges:

 

Each bridge has at least one major hospital and several pharmacies within two mile radius.

 

4.9.2       Shopping areas as cruising spots and pick up points:

 

There are at least three upscale shopping areas that are considered good for cruising and getting picked up by MSM.  In all three shopping areas there is a noticeable visibility of zenanas, masseurs, chavas, garyas and college boys at night time.

 

4.9.3       Health care facilities close to the shopping areas:

 

There is at least one major hospital and several pharmacies close to each shopping centre.

 

6.      Conclusion:

 

In total there are 28 well known MSM cruising spots, pick up points and spaces used for sexual activity.  Apart from these the team members from MSM community also named some neighborhoods that normally are used for getting picked up.  There were at least five neighborhoods that were identified by the team members but while visiting the team did not find any evidence of such activity in these neighborhoods.

 

An estimate of approximately 1500 zenanas, 1000 masseurs, 3000 chavas and nearly 2000 other identities was reported by the key informants in their separate interviews.