If everything goes as planned, the last Sunday of this month will be a colourful one. Delhiites, get ready to participate in the fourth queer pride march, scheduled on November 27, 2011 at 3 pm from Barakhamba Road to Tolstoy Marg.
The event, which aims to spread awareness among people, intends to highlight a few key issues related to the LGBT community across the nation. The fourth queer mach is expected to be bigger and better than the previous ones, and the organiser mentions, “We want the government to make provisions to end violence against the LGBT community. There should be an anti-discrimination law that addresses sexual orientation and gender identity issues and protects the LGBT by ending discrimination at educational institutions, hospitals, workplaces, police stations and other state and privately run institutions. Also, there should be health services provided equally and the law should forbid surgical and psychiatric medical interventions to alter sex, gender or sexual orientation, unless the person’s complete legal consent is established.”
Mohnish Malhotra, gay rights activist and one of the organisers in the Delhi Queer Pride Committee, informs, “Even though homosexuality is decriminalised by the law, there are still many unresolved issues related to basic human rights, equality and dignity of LGBTs in our country. There is still need for people to broaden their perception towards homosexuals. Prior to this event we had organised a fund-raiser and we got good response from people in Delhi.”
He adds, “Since the area near Janpath is currently blocked due to the Metro construction, we are taking special precautions to make sure the traffic around that area is not affected due to the march. At the march we’ll be giving out masks, rainbow flags and scarves, and leaflets stating our demands.”