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.
“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.”
Pride is just one way a group of people celebrate and support each other in their way of life. Pride is basically a feeling of self-respect and personal worth, and others can have pride in you.
Individuals who happen to homosexual, transexual, bisexual, etc. have met with many barriers to leading a normal life. In fact, some of these individuals are treated as if they have a disability.
What this “rally” has done is show other Indians, and the government that there is a large body of Indians who are GLBTO (gay, lesbian, bi, trans, and others) and that they are just as Indian as all the other “normal, straight” citizens of the nation.
This is a very huge step, to have these individuals step out and celebrate in more than one city is fantastic. It shows progression, and may suggest a change in the paradigm that a normal person is “straight.”
You must realize that many groups who are different have started this way. For example, in North America’s early history, individuals who were classified as “coloured” were discriminated against. They were put into submission, and there was a lost sense of pride. Fortunately, times changed, and pride was restored, and rallies, walks, celebratory parades and sit ins occurred. It took some time, but others noticed that these people were not that different.
There is still discrimination in this world, but these little steps count towards more equity and fairness to all. One can not believe that a “drop in the ocean means nothing,” because 1 clean, beautiful, ever-changing, ever-progressing drop can change the ocean of crap that we egotistical, backward humans have created.
That’s my answer.
I find it very ridiculous that the constituition of many countries thinks it has the right to go about telling people whom to sleep with and whom not to.
Politicians who have a dozen cases of murder and sexual assault pending against them can sit in the Parliament to pass our bills and someone can’t even lead a homosexual life ? Can they take Bangalore to a place worse than where these corrupt politicians are taking it ?
It is not to say that one way of leading life is better than the other. But what we need in plenty (and sorely lack) is the ability to accept people and communities along with the personal choices they have made.
The ACT of being out in public for a gay pride parade,in the best of your personal circumstance (with or without masks) demanding the right to be visible and equal is a brave, powerful act of solidarity, hope, passion, unity,strength and courage. It is to take responsibility for our own destiny. That this happened in India, a country that still criminalizes homosexuality, makes it even moreso.
Sometimes talk is cheap and Sometimes actions do speak louder than words…..
“You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.” Swami Vivekananda
Arrey wah!
Hi,
I am from Bangalore Mirror. I wanted to know if I could use this post for ‘Blog talk’ section in our paper. Please do let me know if you are okay with it, my email id is nt[dot]balanarayan[at]gmail[dot]com
Peevee,
Before this piece goes out to greater audience via Bangalore Mirror, I would really hope you get a few things right.
Your very premise of calling this march as Bangalore Pride 08 is factually incorrect.
this year Bengaluru and Delhi are joining Kolkata in marching to celebrate “Pride” in India
and reached Sajjan Rao circle at 3.00pm to capture the moments of Pride of India, Bangalore.
Where are we taking Bangalore to?
The march is called Gay Pride march. and not Bangalore pride. It has got nothing to do with Bangalore or any other city. The ‘pride’ refers to being gay.
It is a celebration of being Gay, lesbian, bi sexual, transsexual, to simply put being not heterosexual or not ONLY heterosexual.
The gay pride march is annually held around this time of the year across the world to commemorate the riots that broke out in 1969 in New York city when a Gay bar was raided by police.
By this pride they didn’t try to take Bangalore no where, it is just a way to show, we exist. Just because you think being homosexual (etc.) is not natural doesn’t make us any less natural. We are here standing in large numbers in front of you asking you to accept us the way we are and not despise us.
You mentioned in BWS thread that you belong to the old school of thought so I won’t push you much but if really want to find answers to your questions read my two latest post on this issue.
first this – http://sanjuktasviews.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/time-to-stand-up-and-stand-tall/
and then this – http://sanjukta.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/nationwide-queer-pride-march-an-historical-event/
Thanks Aarthy.
Thanks Lavanya.
Thanks Sadhana.
Thanks Gopal.
Thanks Balu.
Thanks Sanjukta.
@ Sanjukta.
I dint write anything new. The posters and placards said “Bangalore Pride 08″ and even if you look at your post, it says “Stockholm Pride 2008″. So.. i dont see any factual mistake in using the word “Bangalore Pride”. In fact, you just can’t call this parade as “gay pride march”, cos, you had a set of people across GLBT. But, i agree that it needs a lot GUTZ to show the point of existence (as a GLBT) to the entire lot of people. And, these people, showed their GUTZ.
Anyways, I’m not here to argue on things that I’m not very clear/keen on. Thanks.
Good info. I never knew there was such thing happening in our city.
I got to know of this blog through Bangalore Mirror. I like your photos very much (more than mine I think) but I wish you provided some answers, some original thoughts, rather than asking so many questions and regurgitating facts that are already out there.
Congrats, Peevee.
This post got published in Bangalore Mirror, today.
hello.
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waiting for your reply.
Thank you.
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Thank you..