Queer Pride

One Two Three Four Open up the closet door,

Five Six Seven Eight Don’t assume your kids are straight.

 

 The Queer pride march held on the 28th of June 2009, was synonymous of the above jingle. It was a free spirited fight against the section 377 of the Indian penal code, which criminalizes homosexuality in India. It was a gay event filled with colour, music, and dance and love. There was a carnival atmosphere present in the entire march and an air of cheerful protest was also part of the general ambience.

 

  Rainbow colored flags and banners, top hats, umberellas and lovely T-shirts with meaningful quotes; it was such a beautiful march. Faces painted with dainty hearts to lovely flowers, the whole march had so much of meaning attached to it. It was a day where the "queer" community in Bangalore came out of their closets and actually portrayed to the rest of the world, the equality between them and the so called ' straight' community. They were so graceful and free flowing in every aspect. The word "love" was emphasized on a great deal. My friend and I went for the march mainly because he wanted to take pictures and I just wanted to see what it is all about. We were very much carried away the instant we reached the National College grounds in Basavanagudi.We were just blown away with the spirit that encircled each one of us. It was a mind blowing, to say the least.

 

  The ground was filled with reporters from various news channels, homosexuals, lesbians, bi-sexuals, hijra’s, kothi’s, doubledekkers and a great many from the 'straight' community. This was very encouraging. It felt heartening to know that many youngsters in Bangalore actually do support the rights of the queer community and they really were in union with the community, showing no sense of disgust or fear. There were also plenty of people from different NGO’s like Sangama etc. The sex workers union of Bangalore also attended the pride march, which was again commendable, considering the amount of exploitation and ridicule they are put through.

                  

   The harmless insanity, the growing vibrancy and the sense of humanity all coexisted to create a fabulous march of protest as well as celebration. It was a celebration of their lives, of their courage and of love. Hugs and kisses were endless and not one sign of violence or threat. I felt so at peace after a very long time in Bangalore. There was so much of genuine love and warmth floating in the air and it was exhilarating to breathe in all of that. It was awe striking to see the hijra’s dancing to everlasting beats. They are so graceful in their movements, so soft spoken, and so beautiful. I danced with one transsexual at the end of the march near the town hall and it was an experience that brought about so much of pride in me, so much of self confidence and finally it brought about change. They were dressed in lovely shades of pink, blue and red, adding so much more color than there already was. I was awe struck from the moment I entered in their midst. I met so many people on the way and none of them hesitated to offer their friendship and to offer most importantly their love, which always is infinite.

 

My T-shirt read, “I’d be gay for you”. I felt so proud of the fact that I was really supporting them and being with them on this very important day.

Now to look at Section 377 and what it holds for the gay community, it makes sex dirty, carnal and sometimes gruesome. The section was laid down in the Indian penal code by Lord Macaulay in 1860 and it is very much rooted in Victorian sensibility.

 

It reads,

 

“Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment of either description of term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to a fine”.

 

  The section criminalizing homosexuality denies them the rights to marriage, adopting children, pensions, housing, and yes, their fundamental rights.

 

“Labels are for filing, labels are for clothing. Labels are not for people.

 

 Martina Navratilova, US tennis player.

 

 Once a queer is labeled, his or her opportunities for employment become very bleak and some even say it is a contagious disease and that the legalization would homosexuality and sodomy. A homosexual becomes a homosexual by choice, and it is most often genetics that play a role here. One does not become a gay just because another gay touched him or her. All this hue and cry is a load of hogwash.

 

 Coming to the lives of transsexuals, the police often use the section to harass and abuse them even though they do not come under it. They are often arrested, humiliated and sometimes molested or even raped. The section is only for homosexuals. It does not state anything about transsexuals or other sexual minorities. So why ill treat them? Shouldn’t they be protected, given rights, and respected?

 

 To dwell on the history of queer pride, it all began on the night of June 28, 1969, when fully armed squads of the New York Police Department [NYPD] raided the Stonewall inn, an obscure pub in Greenwich Village in New York that was a regular hang out spot for gays. They questioned and humiliated many of the gays in the pub and thereafter ‘queer pride’ began to spread through towns, through regions, to countries and finally to the world.

 

 Talk about a revolution man! Section 377, is no more for consenting homosexual relationships. It is still a crime for the under aged though. Lets not give up, let’s keep fighting, supporting the community, encouraging them every step of the way, after all they deserve the freedom.