Festival of love marked by spirit of reconciliation

A version of this piece on the Delhi Gay Pride 2009 will appear tomorrow in The Indian Express.

As the Gay Pride March took a brief halt near K G Marg, a middle-aged woman was standing alone at a distance carrying the placard – Proud to be a Mother. She was one of many parents who had come here in support of their children. Did she feel apprehensive? “Not at all,” she said. “Awareness creates an understanding that being gay is not unnatural.”

The 2009 Annual Gay Pride March was marked by this spirit of reconciliation. Bisexuals and transgenders had, in earlier years, felt marginalised by this movement. But this year, they were out in full strength. Kiran, 30, a person from the transgender community, was delighted by this show of unity. “We are one soul, one thought,” she said. “Together, we are stronger.”

Nor could this be dismissed as detached upper-class activism. They came from the villages of Khanpur, Kapashera and Ashram, as they did from the elite neighbourhoods of Defence Colony and Jangpura. Mohammad Akhtar, who works as a tailor, had come all the way from Mumbai. He had been to gay pride rallies in all parts of the country, but he had never seen anything of such fervour and magnitude. Delirious and lost for words, all he could say was, “Bahut accha lag raha hai.”

The gathering had also been enthused by reports that came in yesterday that the government was considering repealing Section 377 and de-criminalise homosexuality. There were an air of optimism and the sense that, after years of hard work, victory was near. Pulapre Balakrishnan, who insisted I use his full name, and has been part of the movement for 15 years said, “The government’s reaction has been very positive. This has been long overdue.” Fashion designer Suneet Verma was ebullient. “Bravo to the new government and the sensitivity they have shown,” he said.

The most heartening aspect was the solidarity shown by people outside the gay community, as placards with Homo Hetero Bhai Bhai could be seen in abundance. Though accurate numbers cannot be known, it would not be far off the mark to say that almost 50% of the gathering comprised of heterosexual people. Kanta Advani, in her mid-60’s, walked carefully through the raucous crowd while holding her husband’s hand. “I’m here in support of freedom,” she said.

The march began at 5.30 p.m. from Barakhamba Road and continued for more than two hours until its culmination at Jantar Mantar. Sulekha, a gay activist, took the stage and announced, “I have nothing to be ashamed of. I’m proud to be gay.” Balloons soared over the crowd, whistles rent the air and people of all hues and colours danced to the beat of Asha Band. Once the band stopped briefly, the crowd chanted, “Hum Dilli lene aaye hain, hum Dilli lekar jayenge.(We’ve come to conquer Delhi, we will leave after we conquer it).”

By the time the march dispersed, nobody was left to argue that it wasn’t the case.