UN releases Bollywood video for LGBT rights

How do you address homophobia in India?

The United Nations has chosen one of the most popular and obvious routes: go Bollywood.

In Mumbai, The UN human rights office released a Bollywood-style video called "The Welcome" to launch their Free and Equal campaign, which advocates equality for LGBT people, in India.

The video features Bollywood star and former Miss India Celina Jaitly. Due to her support for LGBT rights, she was nominated last year by the High Commissioner for Human Rights as a UN Equality Champion.

Jaitly sings a remixed cover version of the 1979 Bollywood hit "Uthe Sab Ke Kadam".

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement to support the campaign.

“Today the United Nations and our partners issue a call to action: For an end to criminalization, for effective legal protection against discrimination, and for all members of our human family to be treated with the compassion, respect and dignity they deserve,” he stated in a news release.

Gay rights in India faced a major setback when, on December 11, India's Supreme Court reinstated a colonial era law that prohibits same-sex relationships.

On the other hand the Indian Supreme Court ruled on April 15 to recognize transgender people as a third gender and transgender rights as human rights.