Mumbai: Cloud over NCP-backed pride march

Color Positive Foundation’s members said they applied for approvals and received the nod this week

The Color Positive Foundation, an organisation that works for LGBTQIA+ rights, is all set to organise its first Mumbai Pride Parade on January 28. However, two of the city's most prominent queer rights groups and original organisers of the pride march in Mumbai - Humsafar Trust and Queer Azaadi Mumbai (QAM) - have stated they won't be part of it.

The founder-director of Color Positive Foundation heads the state LGBT Cell of the NCP, and an activist pointed out that this could be why it got the permission. Both Humsafar Trust, which has been advocating for the community since 1994, and QAM have said via social media posts that they have nothing to do with organising the pride march on January 28.

Neither mentioned any reason for staying away, they concluded the post by wishing luck to the organisers. "We have put out a post on social media on what we wanted to say, which is very clear. We do not wish to say anything more on this," said a spokesperson from Humsafar Trust.

The Color Positive Foundation has asked people on social media to not bring political posters to the march

The post on Instagram read, "The Humsafar Trust or any of its initiatives, are not affiliated with any organisation or initiative, for Mumbai Pride Parade this January 2023. We wish the community and the organisers good luck with their initiative."

Even QAM posted on their official Instagram page disassociating themselves from the pride march. QAM posted: "Queer Azaadi Mumbai (QAM) has not planned the Pride March in Mumbai for January 2023. Please be informed that at the moment we are not requesting anyone for any donations for any activities. We shall keep you updated as and when things move ahead."

Also read: How same-sex, live-in partners are navigating financial hurdles

Savio Mascarenhas, the founder-director of Color Positive Foundation and a member of the Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) state LGBT Cell told mid-day that they had applied for approvals and only received the nod this week. "We are holding this march ourselves, but want everyone to participate. We are talking to QAM and Humsafar Trust via email, however, they haven't responded or replied to us yet. Also, I have seen their social media posts, they have not dissociated or denied participation, they have only clarified that they have not organised the pride march and have not requested for any donations," said Mascarenhas.

He added, "The other organisations could not get the permission and we did. After we approached them informing them that we got the permission to organise the march, they have not responded to us."

An LGBTQIA+ activist has however, pointed out that the political affiliation of the Color Positive Foundation's director helped get it the permission. However, Color Positive Foundation has asked participants and supporters to not bring anti or pro-political banners and posters to the march, via its social media.