having recently traveled in India for three weeks, I heard remarkably similar accounts all too frequently from groups of women travelers.
Even as a man, I was approached for sex several times while out running. It was gross.
Having traveled a fair amount, I have never personally experienced behavior consistently this revolting in other countries. The behavior of Indian men was easily the most dissappointing part of my time there.
Indian gay men will often ask foreigners for sex - it happened to me a number of times. I wasn't particularly disturbed when it happened, but I was curious why it happened so much to me.
I asked a couple of the guys who approached me and I got two answers. One is that I'm about a foot taller and more muscular than the vast majority of indian men, i.e. I'm pretty hot. The other is that if they approach an Indian, he might know people in their community which would result in their family finding out they are gay.
Nothing terribly unusual or that I haven't encountered in the US, but the frequency with which it happened was really alarming.
Twice a guy drove up next to me on more quiet roads and starting asking questions about how to get around or something other general that I can't remember (in English, btw). I always tried to keep running and they just rode along next to me. The topic would quickly change to sex and then I would get angry and sprint back to a busy street and go away. A couple other times guys drive past me in cars and were more direct. It was never violent or particularly scary.
A long time ago, I read the classifieds section of an Indian tabloid that has 1 million readers. These are examples of what I saw:
> Male Gorgeous: Male to Male only. Head to Toe complete relaxation body massage, Hygienic North, South India masseurs anytime.
> Body Massage: Male to Male (Hotels/Doorstep). Complete Relaxation. Good Looking Guys. High Profile. Only Male Service.
Now, I'm not one to judge, but the fact that it's important how good-looking the masseurs are indicates to me that people aren't just getting massages.
mostly people riding after me on motorcycles, and pretending to ask a question and then turning the conversation elsewhere. It only happened a few times, but I also only went running a few times.
Even as a man, I was approached for sex several times while out running. It was gross.
Having traveled a fair amount, I have never personally experienced behavior consistently this revolting in other countries. The behavior of Indian men was easily the most dissappointing part of my time there.