“ Yeh kaunsa rally hain ?” was what almost half a dozen people asked me at the Gay Pride rally held in the city on Sunday. All curious onlookers, they were snapping pictures, taking videos, clearly bemused by the colourful costumes, high energy prevalent and the diverse crowd present. On being told that it was an LGBTQ rally for equality, some snickered openly, others nodded and one old auto driver from the old city remarked that he was glad that a day has come when people could be what they wanted to be.
These myriad scenes were just a few amongst the many unfolding at the 7th annual Hyderabad Queer Swabhimana Yatra which started at the Begumpet Police station and ended near the Shenoy Hospital in Secunderabad. As the country begins to move in a new direction vis a vis the LGBTQ community, especially in lieu of the Supreme court’s decision to abolish Section 377 last year, the mood at the Pride walk was that of relief, hope and desire to see more impactful changes other than just decriminalization. The rally was supposed to be held last month but was postponed in the wake of the Pulwama attack.
At the Hyderabad Queer Swabhimana Yatra (HQSY) rally
The rally was buzzing with stories – stories of people coming out, stories tinged with the pain of family’s disapproval, stories laced with grief of being abused, stories of lives spent in denial and stories of people afraid to voice aloud their heart’s desires. Some came in solidarity, some other to celebrate equality while most came to claim their dutiful space under the sun, tired of being marginalized.
Sudhanshu, a 30-year-old academician attended his first Pride rally after he came out to his family following the Supreme Court’s ruling last year. “I never thought I’d have the courage to some out, he exclaims and adds, “With the change in law, I no longer felt like a criminal. My entire life has changed and to be at the Pride rally makes me feel that I’m a part of something much bigger than myself”
While Sudhanshu was lucky never to be judged or discriminated against either by colleagues at work or students others weren’t as lucky. Rohit Rao, who worked with a software company had been under a lot of stigma and indirect bullying at work but persisted because he had to earn his livelihood. The 26-year old shares, “There is a lot of stereotyping and I was picked on by a lot of colleagues. There was no redressal mechanism and until I found another job, I was depressed at the thought of stepping into the office. Stereotyping of gay people in movies and popular culture doesn’t help either.”
Youngsters at the Hyderabad Queer Swabhimana Yatra(HQSY)
The harsh sun on Sunday notwithstanding, people came dressed to the nines. Some came as Goddesses, others channelled their inner superheroes. The Pride flag took every imaginable form – banners, tees, necklaces, nail art and even wigs. Some covered their scars with make-up while others wore them with pride.
The rally saw around 400 people in participation from all walks of life. There were activists who work with the gay community in the city, youngsters who participated as they believed in the cause and parents who wanted to walk along with their children, irrespective of their sexual orientation.
One person who attracted a lot of attention was Right Reverend Pramod Goni, the Bishop of Ecclesia Episcopal Synod who says that religion never inflicts homogeneity on people. Insisting that love is equal, he charmed one and all by saying, “Religion never discriminates amongst people on the basis of whether they are gay or straight. Everyone belongs to God and I only want to share this with everyone who is young and fighting to lead a life of their own choices – whether or not humans support you, God surely will support love.”
With the Pride Rally becoming an annual event in Hyderabad’s lexicon, a heart-warming mix of stories were seen and heard at the rally. While the city comes to terms with its LGBTQ community, there is still a lot to be done. The members are aiming for equal rights for transgenders and for the gay community to be able to marry and adopt; it’s the right time to move ahead, they believe. While the struggle for equality continues, the scars the community has faced are slowly healing, paving way to an open and inclusive society.
