Culture & Lifestyle / Delhi Queer Pride March Disrupts The Status Quo

Delhi Queer Pride March Disrupts The Status Quo

Culture & Lifestyle Dec 01, 2015

by Rumnique Nannar

Delhi thronged with people coming together for the Queer Pride Parade on Sunday, where people called out for the government to decriminalize same-sex relationships and strike down Section 377.

It was a parade unlike any other because, after a tension-filled year of debates around intolerance and beef bans, LGBTQI activists and their allies came out to critique the government for its flip-flopping on gay rights. Many of the slogans on placards read "Modiji mere mann ki baat, pride ke saath ek raat,” or "I like my men Beefy!" which directly challenged the moral high horse many of these politicians are on.

^{Photo Credit: Buzzfeed India}

A few days earlier, Finance Minister Arun Jaitely and his predecessor, P. Chidambaram, stated that the Supreme Court should not have reversed the Delhi High Court's order reversing Section 377, which criminalizes gay sex and same-sex relations.

"When millions of people world over are having alternative sexual preferences, it is too late in the day to propound a view that they should be jailed. The Delhi High Court's view appears more acceptable…The court was not dealing with any personal law and was on the issue of order of nature and the Delhi high court has held that it was not an offence. The SC took a very conservative approach on the issue and the judgment needs to be reconsidered," said Jaitely at the Times LitFest.

These comments from both ministers received praise and criticism at the parade, with many opinions divided by the BJP's opposition to gay rights. For instance, BJP Leader Subramanian Swamy tweeted his disapproval at Jaitely's comments with his stinging tweet that Jaitely's statement celebrated a "genetic flaw."

^{Photo Credit: Twitter}

Harish Iyer, a gay rights activist and the famous son of the very accepting mother who posted his marital advertisement looking for a suitable groom, praised Jaitely's bold statement. "Even if his whole party is against homosexuality, this one person's view must be celebrated, because it takes a lot of courage to be a voice of dissent, and as homosexuals we should know that…Jaitley has also expressed this opinion in an interview after the elections last year," said Iyer to Scroll.in.

_{One of the Great Signs at the Parade}
_{Photo Credit: iDiva}

The pride parade started at Barakhamba Road, winding its way down to the Tolstoy Marg and on to the Jantar Mantar. Like with all pride parades with a cause that's still being fought over in the public and in the courts, there was a great sense of celebration in the air. This mood was apparent in the sometimes cheeky and witty signs that people walked around with.

Like this very wise and salient point from this activist:

_{Photo Credit:}_{Buzzfeed India}

There was this witty message:

_{Photo Credit:}_{Buzzfeed India}

And this cheeky chap who had a very meaty message:

_{Photo Credit:}_Instagram

Or this gang of friends who had some fabulous signs:

_{Photo Credit: –}_iDiva

For many activists, one hopeful piece of good news is that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted that he will be moving his bill to Parliament soon. Although there's no strict timeline on when the government will address this bill, there's enough consensus from this huge parade that it's about time India stops denying same-sex couples' and the LGBTQI community's basic human rights.

_{Photo Credit:}_Twitter

_{Main Image Photo Credit:}_{Buzzfeed India}

Rumnique Nannar

Author

Rumnique Nannar is a new journalist with a passion for all things pop culture, film, and art. Rumnique was born in London, with a predilection for devouring English chocolate with her Vogue, ANOKHI, and Glamour magazines in tow. She is currently in her Journalism Masters at UBC. Connect ...

COMMENTS

Violence Against Women: Is There Hope For India?

#SikhLivesMatter Trends On Social Media To Protest The Lack Of Media Coverage Of Punjab Killings

The Pink Ladoo Campaign Aims To Combat Gender Discrimination One Ladoo At A Time

Where Does Volkswagen Currently Stand In The Automotive Industry?

Indian Air Force To Induct Women Fighter Pilots

Social Message Of Love Gone Viral: 'I Am Indian And I Don't Hate Pakistan'

Gymnast Dipa Karmakar Becomes The First Indian Athlete To Qualify For The World Gymnastics Competition

A 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Afghanistan And Pakistan

Nepal Elects First Female President

Perth, The Hottest Vacation Spot

Schoolboy Survivor Of Taliban Attack Begins Anti-Terrorism Campaign

The Acoustic Girls Pay Tribute To SRK On His 50th Birthday

Uber Driver Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Delhi Rape

BALMAIN x H&M In Stores TODAY!

A Historic Moment: 4 Indo-Canadians In Justin Trudeau's Cabinet

Abercrombie & Fitch Reinvents Itself With Their First South Asian Face

Blueberry Pakora Recipe For Diwali

Coca-Cola Canada Launches Diwali Campaign

Contessa Awards 2015: Highlights & South Asian Talent

Kerala Makes History With New Transgender Policy

The Revival Of #NotInMyName Hashtag After Tragic Paris Attacks

Get Ready For We Are Your Sisters Yogathon Raising Funds To Help Women

#HappyToBleed Goes Viral To Protest The Demand For Scanners To Detect Menstruating Women At Temples

Bollywood Actor Aamir Khan Adds More Controversy To The Hot Debate On Intolerance

Bajirao Mastani Ignites Controversy Amidst Celebrated Grandeur & Opulence

Trudeau's Visit With The Queen Comes With A Purpose

Cool Hot Spots To Ring In The New Year!

ORANGE IS THE NEW WORLD: UN launches #orangetheworld Campaign to end Violence against Women

Anushka Sharma Gets Candid About Bollywood's Sexism & Unequal Pay

Rescue Efforts In India Continue As Chennai Gets Downpoured

'Accessible India' Campaign Aims at a More Inclusive Society

151 'Fatherless' Brides Wed In A Mass Indian Wedding

The Backlash To Trump & His Proposed Muslim Ban

Google CEO Sundar Pichai Urges Muslims To Not Let Fear Defeat Values

Life In The Fast Lane: India's First Ever Bullet Train

Australian Newspaper Sparks Controversy With Offensive Cartoon Mocking India

Priyanka Chopra And Zayn Malik Top The Sexiest Asian Men And Women's Lists

12-Year-Old Sikh Boy Arrested for Alleged Backpack Bomb

Meet The First Player Of Indian Origin To Sign For Liverpool

Are Death Sentences Sufficient To Stop Violence Against Women?

Ho Mann Jahaan Hits Theatres January 1st And Promises Some Subtle Substance

AIB & Other Comedy Group Challenge Facebook's Violation Of Net Neutrality

Sri Lanka's President Upset By Female Fans At Enrique Iglesias Concert

Start-Up India Action Plan To Be Unveiled On January 16th

Celebrate 2016 By Spreading Some #GirlLove With Superwoman

Delhi's Odd-Even Driving Ban Faces Challenges Ahead

35 South Asians Honoured By The Queen In New Year's Honours List

Shake Up Your Western Menu With Some Eastern Flair

Shake Up Your Egg Routine With This Healthy Avocado And Egg Recipe!

Yash Raj Films Launches India's First Transgender Music Band

Bangladeshi Couple Named To Harvard South Asian Arts Council

On the Shelf: Our Must-Read Books for January

Jewel Kats Passes Away Leaving Proud Legacy For People With Disabilities

How One Young Woman Is Using Art To Help Cope With Illness

Tinder Sets Up First International Office In India

Delhi Queer Pride March Disrupts The Status Quo

by Rumnique Nannar

Delhi thronged with people coming together for the Queer Pride Parade on Sunday, where people called out for the government to decriminalize same-sex relationships and strike down Section 377.

Rumnique Nannar

COMMENTS

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE