The third edition of the Manaveeyam Queer Fest, a curtain raiser to Kerala’s pride march, will be held at Manaveeyam Veedhi on Sunday.
A ‘Queer Pride’ from Asan Square to Manaveeyam Veedhi at 3 p.m. will kick off the fete. Mayor V.K. Prasanth will flag off the rally. At Manaveeyam Veedhi, a cultural meeting will be inaugurated by Minister for Tourism Kadakampally Surendran. The chief guest will be ‘Soorya’ Krishnamoorthy.
People who were a part of the queer movement, particularly in the area of LGBTIQ rights, from across the State and people who supported the Oasis Cultural Society in the district would be honoured on the occasion, said Sreemayi, patron Sreekutty, and other office-bearers of the Oasis that organises the fete.
Cultural programmes by the community members would be presented. A beauty pageant for transgenders with the title winner to be crowned Mx. Manaveeyam would be held on the occasion, they said.
The ninth pride march, to be held in Thrissur on August 16 and 17, will be a statement against Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that questions their sexuality and gender, said Ms. Sreekutty.
“We want Section 377 to be repealed in the country,” she said. Seminars, panel discussions, and a photo segment, book stall, and Kudumbasree stalls will be part of the pride march.
