United Nations:
A Bollywood-style United Nations (UN) music video on gay rights, featuring Indian actress Celina Jaitly, has become one of the organization's most watched videos ever with over a million views online, the UN said.
The video was launched by the UN in April as part of a global fight against homophobia.
Charles Radcliff of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) tweeted yesterday that the video has become one of the "UN's most watched ever" with over one million views.
Ms Jaitly expressed her gratitude on the micro-blogging site saying the video has crossed one million views on YouTube.
The two-and-a-half-minute clip was part of the UN's 'Free and Equal' campaign championing equality for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people and an end to homophobia.
Ms Jaitly, who made her musical debut in the clip, was last year nominated by the High Commissioner for Human Rights as a UN Equality Champion in recognition of her support for LGBT rights.
Ms Jaitly had expressed hope that the video would spread a broader message of the need to change not just laws but also attitudes and to challenge stereotypes about the LGBT community as she voiced concern over threats and discrimination faced by the community in India and across the world.
The video, titled 'The Welcome', is about a young man who brings his boyfriend home to meet his family for the first time.
Ms Jaitly, a mother of two-year old twins, had said that she had even received threats for supporting gays and lesbians. She however added that she will continue to work toward bringing equality for the community.
In a message during the launch of the video, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had applauded India's human rights activists and film fraternity for standing up for the rights of the LGBT community as he called for the immediate repeal of all laws criminalizing consensual same-sex relationships.
Ban said he hopes that the video will carry a message of equality to millions of people.
He had also expressed his support for the campaign and his solidarity with India's LGBT community, reaffirming his staunch advocacy to end prejudice and intolerance against LGBT persons.