Marching with 'Pride'

Push open those closeted doors which bound you, if you love them and they love you, does anything else really matter? The struggle for LGBTQIA+ representation in India has been a timeless struggle, this one's particularly regarding the gay community, a march that took place just a few weeks before the decriminalization of section 377.

The Rainbow March of 2009; Image Source: The New Yorker

The hearts and minds of the crowd grew desperate. The paint on their face in the shade of the rainbow began melting as perspiration gathered around their upper lip and cheeks. People could be seen standing with tall, pride flags, in anticipation of the result. They had waited too long, and it was time they received the representation they deserved.

“Frankly, I’m not here to answer your questions. Or anybody else’s. At least, not today. Today, I’m here to remind the world that you have no right to question our sexual preferences. It’s our fundamental right.”

This is what one amongst the thousands of people participating in the march on this day in 2009 had to say. They had assembled for a cause and were not going to let go easily. In New Delhi, the crowd waved their flags and danced through the streets towards the High Court, where centuries ago the Britishers had passed a law that criminalized gay sex. Their own country had now been fighting for the LGBT representation for almost a century whereas India chose to stick to such laws.

A food for thought here is that India, a country filled with the baggage of diverse religions like Hinduism, which believes in gender fluidity, still holds such conservative fronts with regards to such issues. Even the words of Section 377 seemed fusty and antique since the Britishers left us with them. Homosexuality has always been regarded with disfavour, even on political fronts. Rajnath Singh, a politician, commented the following when questioned on this

“We believe that homosexuality is an unnatural act and cannot be supported.”

So, in the hopes for better response, these activists decided to turn to courts instead. And this is why they had gathered up here today, to not just call for the legalization of gay sex, but along with it, rights of the entire LGBTQIA+ community, in the long-term. One of the march organizers who was also a law student had to say this:

"This piece of legislation makes no sense… You cannot deny people their basic civil rights.”

Those hours of marching did not go in vain after all. A few weeks after this particular march took place, gay sex was legalized. People rejoiced and their happiness knew no bounds. Rainbow flags furled above the thousand happy protestors. Colourful streamers surrounded the air and the protestors looked up with hope for a brighter future for their community, in India. Obstacles like ‘a conservative society’ didn’t seem like a barrier anymore. The march had taken them one step closer to representation.