Rainbow hues in Pink City: Hundreds march for equality
Five years ago, when Ankit Sharma turned 22, his parents had planned a grand party for him as a birthday gift .
Ankit, however, had other plans in mind. He wanted his parents to watch a TV episode that he had recorded in advance before asking for his gift that year.
As they sat together to watch an episode of a TV show, Satyamev Jayate, they realised that their son wanted to send across a message about his sexual orientation to them through the programme..
It was at that moment Sharma asked for his birthday gift from his parents.
“I told my family that I am gay and tried to explain queerness to them. It took time, but gradually my parents learned to accept me for who I am,” said Sharma, a resident of Ajmer,one of the participants at the 3rd Queer Gulabi pride parade in Jaipur on Sunday.
“I decided to say the truth about my sexual orientation to my parents because I was tired of dying slowly inside every day. I had also attempted suicide and knew that I can’t live like this anymore. My sexual preference is completely natural and there’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Sharma.
Sharma, who is now a government employee feels that after he came out of the closet he is in a much better place in his life.
Several people from around the country took part in the parade — from Shahid Swarak to the Albert Hall.
The parade was organized by Pushpa Gidwani of the Nai Bhor Sangstha, who is alsoa member of Rajasthan Transgender Welfare Board.
“I am from Kolkata and before coming to Jaipur I had covered a couple of other pride parades in different cities. The primary difference between metro cities and small cities is that in bigger cities people find it easier to speak their mind, thanks to the various campaigns that are being regularly organized to spread awareness about the cause,” said Venkatesh Kodukula, another participant. From only a handful of individuals in the beginning, the parade was soon joined by a motley group of people from diverse backgrounds with different sexual preferences. They happily posed for photos and selfies wearing rainbow badges and holding flags.
The policemen, who were deployed to control law and order situation, were also given rainbow flags by the participants and some of them even tried to engage the cops indiscussions on LGBT rights.
“I had been to the Pride Toronto event, which is one of the biggest queer parades in the world, but the situation here is in sharp contrast to what I saw there.
“Given the fact that homosexuality is criminalized in India, there is definitely a long way to go,” said Brodie Hampbell, a Canada resident who participated in theparade.
SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TOOK PART IN THE PARADE — FROM SHAHID SWARAK TO THE ALBERT HALL