From photo exhibition to shopping mela, Bengaluru Pride and Karnataka Queer Habba 2010 brings a galore of colourful events celebrating various sexual identities kickstarting this Thursday

We generally see them at dharnas and protests passionately talking about rights and social injustices related to their identities. But get ready now to see them as filmmakers, poets and theatre artistes. Thanks to the third Bengaluru Pride and Karnataka Queer Habba 2010.



The nearly 10-day-long programme will see sexual minorities across the state in their creative avatars as they gear to celebrate their identities. Though the event aims to tell the world about who they are, what they want and need in terms of basic freedom, rights and identity, yet it is sprinkled with loads of entertaining and cultural events, Bengaluru Pride and Karnataka Queer Habba 2010 promises to be full of fun, music and more.

Sharing that this year the festival also celebrates how article 377 was repealed after the success of Bengaluru Pride March 2009, Akkai, Kothi and an activist says, "We are always associated with discriminations and stigmas. We also needu00a0 some day to celebrate our pride and have some fun."

Bengaluru Pride and Karnataka Queer Habba 2010 organised by Campaign for Sex Workers and Sexual Minority Rights (CSMR), which expects a turnout of around 800 people from all over the state is open to all and will be featuring events like a Queer Art Exhibit at 1, Shanti Road, story-telling at Maara, poetry sessions, songs, theatre, a Queer mela, short films screening and more.

Explaining that the habba is lighthearted approach to deeper issues, Niruj Mohan from CSMR says, "The festival also aims at making people comfortable about who they are. Such events give rise to awareness and impart visibility to minorities and provide them a platform to express what they undergo and feel."

MiD DAY brings you a list of what Bengaluru Pride and Karnataka Queer Habba 2010 has in store for you:

Love Across Boundaries
This will be a panel discussion where members of the LGBT group and other activists will talk about how love knows no barriers of gender, sexuality, class and religion. The discussion will explore how the spirit and essence of love is being categorized into 'natural' and 'unnatural'.
On: November 18, 3pm onwards
At: ISI Hall, Indian Social Institute, Benson Road

Park Bench Stories
Ranging from heartbreaks to joys of love, this event is an open forum for the LGBT community to share their love stories. So if you want to spend a sunny afternoon on a park bench while listening to unheard stories, then this is for you
On: November 20, 3 pm to 5 pm
At: Cubbon Park Band stand