The city is all geared up for the third edition of the colourful Delhi Queer Pride parade. Come Sunday and gays, lesbians and transgenders will proudly come out on the city roads, holding high their rainbow flags. The organisers might not have sent out any invitations for the event, yet they predict a strong participation of more than 2,000 people.
“We aren’t sending out any personal invites, but like the previous editions, people are expected to turn up for the celebration following the announcements made through media and Internet,” said Monish Malhotra, one of the organisers of the event.
The previous editions, apart from the transgenders, saw many city celebs openly supporting the cause. “This Sunday is certainly going to witness an added fanfare. Along with queer participants, hundreds of supporters are going to join the march,” Monish adds.
But Monish agrees that the event is going to be much more than a riot of colours. “It’s not only a celebration, but also a protest against the daily discrimination faced by homosexuals. The queer pride is being organised to make people realise that LGBTs are also human beings. The world belongs to them too, yet they still lack social acceptance,” he says.
Many LGBTs are coming out of the closet to make a debut in the march, which will take off from Barakhamba Road to Jantar Mantar via Connaught Place.
Like 24-year-old Rasik Oberoi, who has come down from Kanpur just to join in the parade with his friend, who lives in Delhi. “Thankfully after the legal nod and some right noises that came from certain corners, there’s a change in the mindset of the general public, but still a lot needs to be done. I don’t think there is a need to shy away anymore,” says Rasik.
For writer, stylist and partner Quotient Communications, Bharat Atwal, the “pride parade movement” has already gained enough momentum to change the attitude towards gays. “It has also managed to change many lives as those who were ‘frightened’ are opening up about their sexuality. After all homosexuals don’t want to be treated special. They just want to be acknowledged as normal human beings,” he says.