Waving rainbow flags, colourful balloons and placards that asserted their identity, many danced and marched on the streets of the State capital during the Manaveeyam Queer Pride rally on Sunday.
The third edition of the Manaveeyam Queer Fest, a precursor to the 9th Kerala Queer Pride march that will be held in Thrissur on August 16 and 17, witnessed a rousing participation by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community and many ardent supporters of their cause. For them, it was not merely a procession, but a ‘celebration of their identity.’
The rally, flagged off by Rajesh Srinivas of the Bengaluru-based sexual minority rights group Sangama at Asan Square, culminated at the Manaveeyam Veedhi. The programme was organised by the Oasis Cultural Society.
Oasis patron Sreekutty Namitha, who is also the State president of Sexual and Gender Minority Federation, says such rallies were meant to ensure greater visibility for the community, an objective in which they have succeeded to a large extent.
“There has been an ocean of change in the public perception towards sexual minorities. During the first few of our queer pride rallies, we had struggled to convince several personalities to participate. There were not many who were even willing to sit alongside us. Some were even vilified for associating with us. Such is not the situation at present,” she said.
People from various walks of life took part in the rally. Educator Kalyani Vallath, who had recently organised a gender equality rally in the city under the aegis of ‘Equall’, stressed on the necessity of strong support towards the cause from those outside the LGBTIQ community.
Gender equality
“We are in dire need of an environment that fosters debates on gender equality. There continued to be certain ignorance, partly wilful, pertaining to such issues. The prevalent reluctance to accept sexual minorities as part of the society was borne out of the lack of openness towards discussing such topics,” Dr. Vallath said.
Filmmaker Pravi Nair, who came from Kozhikode to become part of the event, pointed out that much depended on the social inclusion and a sense of acceptance felt by transgenders. Such factors were equally important as policy decisions that were made for the community’s benefit, he added. Incidentally, Mr. Nair was working on a feature film, She , focusing on the lives of transgenders.
The queer fest also raised the demand to decriminalise homosexuality and repeal Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. A fashion show for the title of ‘Mx Manaveeyam’ was also held in connection with the event.
