The call of freedom

The Queer Pride Parade 09 is bigger than ever, with a weeklong festival followed by the pride march

The Queer Pride Parade 09 is bigger than ever, with a weeklong festival followed by the pride march

The Queer pride parade in Bangalore is bigger than ever this time. According to some of the supporters, the scenario in the recent years haven't changed much, since they feel the city is still not very open to gay culture. Lot of gays and lesbians are still in the closet.

L Romal M Singh, a gay freelance journalist says, "Gays as a community have evolved and has changed with times, so while certain parts of the community still feel the need to come out, a larger chunk in the community are in extremely comfortable zones and don't see the need to come out ever." He also adds, " Our society is such, where the division between the genders is still not all that coherent and so people do not mind existing within the gray area. For example, nobody will look twice at two girls or guys walking down the road, hand in hand, while a couple of the opposite sexes might garner a lot of attention. In cities however where the need for identity has become such a requirement, we see individuals taking to the extremes of gender identification."

Kaushyk Satish, a supporter of the parade feels, its relatively easier for people these days to come out of the closet.

"With homosexuality increasingly becoming a part of mainstream popular culture, like the gay portrayals in films like My Brother Nikhil, Dostana and with the rising influence of gay advocacy groups, it is relatively easier for homosexuals to find support and acceptance and hence eventually come out." he says.

Kaushyk Satish also feels that, "Pride parades, often derided as plain symbolic attempts, are, in fact, the most public, and hence the most powerful form of raising awareness levels on gay issues. It stirkes in the face of public conscience."

While the supporters look forward to increased participation this year, people who have been involved in organisng the parade are hoping to see more participation from otherwise under represented parts of the society. Siddharth, one of the organizers from Alternative Law Forum, says, "The motive of the fest and the parade this year is to raise awareness for some critical issues and also to force the governement to remove the pending challenge with section 377, according to which homo-sexuality is illegal in India."

"The other reasons are to reduce the increasing violence on hijras by the Karnataka police. Some weeks back, there was an incident where hijras where pulled out of their houses and beaten. And cops said they had the support of the Government and the public to do this, and we think this is totally unfair. And lesbians are having a tough time at homes, with families torturing them. We want to send across a message telling people that they should be aware that homo-sexuality is not a disease and it's a matter ofu00a0 choice," he adds.

One of the known faces who will be a part of this parade this year is Arundhati Nag the actress and theater person who is supporting the queer pride parade and will be addressing people at Town Hall.

"From next year we will be approaching more celebrities to be a part of the pride parade," says Siddharth.

Arundhati Nag speaks

You are supporting the queer pride parade this year. What prompted you to be a part of it?
This is not the first time I am being a part of the pride parade. I have associated and I have been supporting them and their rights for quite sometime now.

What is your message to the general public and the government?
I just know that they are also human beings like us. They have been margined for so many years. Its 2009 and India should be shining. Why can't we include them as a part of our society? Why they aren't given any work? Any education? Why none of us are ready to talk? Its not that I have done something great. I am also equally guilty. But somewhere there has to be a beginning. We need to accept them.

Schedule of Bengaluru Pride 09 and the Karnataka Queer Habba Event:

Event: Evening of Theatre and Dance Performance
Venue: Seva Sadan, 14th Cross Malleswaram, opposite MLA College (between Sampige Road and Margosa Road)
Time: Friday; 26 June 2009; 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Contact: Sumati 9845165143

Event: Story Telling Sessions
Venue: Cubbon Park
Time: Saturday; 27 June 2009; 4 p.m. to 7 p.m
Contact: Deepak 9343763497

Event: Bengaluru Pride '09 (Pride March)
Route: National College Basavanagudi to Puttanachetty Town Hall via Sajjan Rao Circle, Minerva Circle and J.C. Road
Time: Sunday; 28 June 2009; 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Contact: Siddharth 9845001168 or Nithin 9886081269