29th June 2008, was an important day in their lives, they claim. Yes, For the first time this year Bengaluru and Delhi are joining Kolkata in marching to celebrate “Pride” in India.
This was a chance for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, hijra, kothi, transsexual, transgender, doubledecker and intersex communities to celebrate being part of this country and to protest how the government of this country continues to treat sexual minorities as criminals. This was also a chance for friends, families and supporters to come out on the streets in support of these communities, and in doing so, connecting with the origins of Pride Marches which take place around the world at this time of the year.
Ok.. now to the actuals….
When a friend of mine informed about this rally, i was double minded, whether to go there to shoot or NOT. The rally was supposed to start at 2.00pm, and i was still at home, sitting online, browsing some websites. When i decided to go, it was already 2.30pm and reached Sajjan Rao circle at 3.00pm to capture the moments of Pride of India, Bangalore.
It was a breezy Sunday afternoon, about 500 gays, lesbians, bisexuals, trans-genders and their frenzied supporters rallied in the Heart of the IT city, to observe the Stonewall Riots Day.The two-hour rally, flagged off from National college grounds in Basavangudi, ended at Town Hall for a public meeting to the beats of drums, blaring music and a native dance by about 100 activists comprising hijras, kothis(?) and ‘double-dekkers’(?).
Gays and Lesbians were on the rally, with Rainbow spectrum painted in the faces (and few with masks, to hide their faces?) and carrying rainbow umbrellas. The participants also appealed to the general public to support their cause and join them to seek equal rights from the government by Carrying flags, banners and placards with catchy slogans such as “Love Sees No Gender”, “Repeal Section 377 of IPC” and “We Want Basic Human Rights”.
It was a fully secured rally, where at least 100s of policemen came all along with the colourful rally throughout the four-km route to regulate the frenzied activists and others. Vehicular traffic came to a halt at cross-roads like the Sajjan Rao Circle, the Minerva Circle and the Town Hall Circle, to let the rally pass through and allow crowds on both sides. The rally, also seen fellow participants from other countries, the Americans, Europeans and Australians.
“This is the first time a ‘pride rally’ is held in this cosmopolitan city as part of the worldwide movement to observe the Stonewall Riots Day and express solidarity to our fellow sexual minorities,” says an Activist. Some claimed that there was participation from 11 NGOs (though i spoke to people from Sangama and Surakha), in the procession, besides the activists, their friends and families.
When we said, we are from press, few few hijras and commercial sex workers, expressed their problems caused by the Police and Road Side Romeos. These Hijras, wanted Government of Karnataka too, to follow their neighbour, TamilNadu, for a Ration Card Revolution. There was a SHEmale, Jasmine, working as a multimedia designer at Sangama, spoke to us about their organisation and the initiatives for the welfare.
But, at the end of the day, my minds said.. what have you achieved? why do you wanna have this rally? Where are we taking Bangalore to? NO ANSWERS and Nobody wanna answer.
NOTE: Found this information in a website: The organsiations were Alternative Law Forum, Aneka, GAY, Karnataka Sexual Minorities Forum, Karnataka Sexworkers Union, LesBiT, Sadhane, Samara, Sangama, Suraksha, and Swabhava.
If you happen to be a victim, of any of this sort, please let me know. I need a company too.
