India’s Pride marches are important calls for justice but elitist – they must be democratised
Dalit, non-English speaking, disabled and Indigenous queer people are still sidelined at these LGBTQIA+ events. This must change.
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What does it take to march boldly in a society that often silences you for being yourself?
For the LGBTQIA+ community, the Pride marches in Bengaluru and Delhi on November 24 were powerful expressions of resilience, visibility, the collective fight for equality, acceptance and the right to live with dignity.
The history of Pride marches in India is deeply intertwined with the movement to decriminalise homosexuality and claim dignity. The first official Pride, known as the Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk, was held in 1999. Since then, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and other cities have been hosting annual marches that draw members of the LGBTQIA+ communities. Participants, draped in rainbow flags and adorned with colourful attire, carry placards celebrate their community and create awareness about their equal rights.
With time, Prides have also produced space for allies and families to show their support. In a society where societal norms are often hardwired into binary understandings of sex and gender, Prides challenge prejudices and toast to the life experiences of non-binary people.
The landmark Supreme Court verdicts of 2014 (acknowledging transgender people outside the male-female binary) and 2018 (striking down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and decriminalising same-sex relationships) are the pivotal moments commemorated in these marches.
Pride marches continue...
