B’luru LGBT march with pride, 10th time
BENGALURU: It was a synthesis of protest, colour and pride as thousands took part in the 10th edition of the Namma Pride, or queer pride march in the heart of the city on Sunday.
Members of the Campaign for Sex Workers and Sexual Minorities Rights, which organised the event, pegged the number of participants around 5,000, the largest turn out yet. The march wound its way from the Tulsi Park near the Kempegowda Bus Station to the Town Hall, a distance of about six km, and the participants assembled in the amphitheatre of the Ravindra Kalakshetra where cultural programmes were held.
Yash, one of the organisers, said the movement had come a long way. “When it was first held 10 years ago, there were about 300 people, so this turnout is really heartening.” Crucially, Yash said, the initial marches had seen a significant proportion of participants donning masks, “but now there are hardly any”.
While some demands had remained the same over time, like the repeal of Section 377 of the IPC which criminalises homsexuality, there are others like shelters for transgenders, right to self-identification and mandatory sexual-identity education.
“There has been a huge shift in terms of participants as well,” said Romal Laisram, who works for a start-up.
Others felt the more things changed the more they remained the same. “The numbers today were definitely huge, but the same problems we faced earlier were on show during this march. People took photos and one could hear cat-calls and jeering, so clearly a lot more needs to change,” Rumi, who works with a start-up, said.