Well-known lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and social-rights activist Harish Iyerstars in a cheeky new public service announcement (PSA) for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India during LGBT Pride Month. In the light-hearted PSA, Iyer talks with a cock about his love for cocks and urges viewers to love them, too. He remarks that cocks love to be stroked, have a mind of their own and make a big show of themselves in the morning. The viewer, perhaps initially thinking Iyer means something else, soon learns that he’s referring to roosters. Iyer ends the video by cheekily urging viewers not to eat cocks, “the poultry variety anyway”. June is LGBT Pride Month, as announced by US President Barack Obama.
Iyer was featured in Aamir Khan’s talk showSatyamev Jayatein an episode about the sexual abuse of children. He is also the only Indian to be listed in the World Pride Power List 2013, sharing the honour with Stephen Fry, Ricky Martin, Elton John and Martina Navratilova.
“Cocks and chickens are amongst the most abused animals on the planet. Chickens used for meat are often crowded by the thousands into filthy sheds,” says Iyer. “If you’re like me and you love cocks – and other animals – the best thing you can do for them is to leave them off your plate.”
PETA India CEO Poorva Joshipura adds, “This LGBT Pride Month, we urge people to join Harish in wiping hate from their plates by pledging to go meat-free and saving animals’ lives”.