Kerala’s capital city hosted its first ever LGBT Pride march on 14th July, Saturday with nearly 200 community members and allies marching down the streets in the sixth edition of the Kerala ‘Queer Pride March’.
The sixth edition of the 'Queer Pride March' started from 'Manaveeyam Veedhi' in Thiruvananthapuram. The main motto of the march was to declare homosexuality is not a crime. Prominent Social Workers and LGBT members led the march across Kerala.
The members shouted slogans in protest, "I am gay. It is alright. I am lesbian. It is alright." They demanded the revocation of section 377 of the Indian Penal Code or IPC and asked for a life of dignity.
The target of the march was to create awareness about the LGBT Community, whereas in India the majority believe that homosexuality is not natural and is a choice. The Pride March also aimed as an announcement; an attempt at spreading awareness and reaching out to people who lack any access to peer groups and LGBT communities.
"We just want to break loose from the awful stereotype to which we are associated. We are just asking that we should not be looked down upon. Why call all of us Hijras?" asked Seema, a transgender.
In India, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code criminalizes homosexuality. In December 2013, the Supreme Court set aside a Delhi High Court judgment decriminalizing gay sex and left it to the Parliament to make a decision on amending the law.
The main attraction of the parade was the esteemed presence of a christian priest, Fr. Prakash. “I chanced upon them when I was working on Chennai. The church has been undertaking several missionary activities. When I went to their area, I was in my official dress. I was swooped away and was locked inside a room. After some time, I was successful in convincing that I came there to know about them and I am a priest. From then on, I started working for them,” said Fr. Prakash.
Needless to say, the parade sent shockwaves across the conservative ‘religious fundamentalists’ who treat homosexuals and transgenders as sinners. The LGBT community is looking forward to revoking section 377 of IPC, where homosexuality is illegal.
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Photo Credits: Queerala Facebook Community Page
