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Gay & lesbian emergence |
| * Hundreds of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender took to the street in three major cities - New Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore * In New Delhi, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender in hundreds set off a kilometer march from Barakhamba Road to Jantar Mantar. This is the first such march in Delhi |
Hundreds of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) took to the street in three major cities - Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore - on Sunday.
In Delhi, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender in hundreds set off a kilometer march from Barakhamba Road to Jantar Mantar. This is the first such march in Delhi.
Holding placards, dancing to drum tunes and many wearing masks, the marchers shouted slogans against the law, which ban un-natural sexual practices and demanding their rights and recognition in the society.
To end this stigma and discrimination in the society, a lesbian said, "Five years ago, we could dream that people from the biased-gender will come out together on the street in Delhi for the rights. Today, we came out and registered our rights."
"The police, who used to humiliate and harass us, were here to protect and support us.
Many would join us in future to make people in the society understand that we are part of the society. In past, our parades were a symbol of protest, but today we are celebrating the difference and take pride in our identity," she said.
Vikram Kumar, who came from Mumbai to participate in the rally, said, "We are hoping more openness. Now, we have no reason to be afraid of homosexuality. It's hard to hate someone, who loves the person of the same sex."
Many were wearing mask fearing revelation and many fancy dress to attract the attention. A gay, veiled himself in the mask. said, "I work for an MNC and but I fear to come out in open as many employees from our company are in town."
"We know people must make fun of us but we are confident that gradually they will accept us. We organise social meetings every weekend secretly, but it is first time we came out on street," he said.
People came out on the street along with the marchers to support them. Many activists and sympathisers expressed openly about their support to the marchers. Dr Upadhayay of Naz Foundation, who came to support the protesters, said, "It's not unnatural. The march is expression of their existence. Even medical science has proved that it is natural."
Nivedita Menon, a Delhi University teacher, said, "The city would get an idea about the issue after this rally and it will help the marchers. The rally is a way of telling the city that love can be made in a multiple ways."
"We are truly becoming the part of global society. You may turn a blind eye but you can't deny it. There are many people among us, who are homosexual. Be it at schools, girl hostels or boy hostels, it happens everywhere," said Mohit Kumar (name changed).
