Fridae

This year, the Queer Azadi Mumbai’s Pride Week festival will feature a fuller schedule than in previous years with a Human Rights Documentary Film Screening on Jan 22 followed parties, short film screenings, street performances, makeover sessions, T-shirts designing workshops, a book reading and an open mic night through the week before culminating in a parade and post-pride party on Jan 29.

Organiser and gay rights activist Harish Iyer was quoted as saying in a local newspaper that getting the mandatory permissions from the police and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was a piece of cake. 

"The response from the authorities was very promising. They were attentive and open-minded and not once did we have to mask our reasons for holding the event," Iyer adds.

He was also quoted as saying that he hopes for the events which are pitched at LGBT individuals, and straight supporters, family and friends to bring the community and its activities into the mainstream.

"Our agenda is to start getting visible and gradually start a dialogue with mainstream society about issues facing the community and its members."

While the Delhi High Court has on Jul 2, 2009 passed a landmark judgement to ‘read down’ Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code so that sexual acts between consenting adults of the same sex in private are no longer criminalised,  organisers say they are demanding that the Constitution include provisions to deal with all discrimination on the grounds of sexuality or gender.

"This year, we march again, for not just freedom, but also for our constitutional rights. This 26th January we celebrate the 62nd Republic Day of India, the anniversary of the day when the Constitution of India came into force. To quote from the judgment: 'If there is one constitutional tenet that can be said to be underlying theme of the Indian Constitution, it is that of ‘inclusiveness’. This Court believes that Indian Constitution reflects this value deeply ingrained in Indian society, nurtured over several generations.'", organisers say in its publicity material.

The first Queer Azadi Mumbai march was on August 16, 2008 although the city had also seen a large-scale protest demonstration on August 16, 2005  by several queer community groups and individuals. The following two years, on the same date, The Humsafar Trust, organised a march; in 2006, from Lokmanya Tilak (Sion) Hospital to Maheshawari Udyan and in 2007 from Santacruz Station (East) to Humsafar's Vakola office.

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