Around 300 members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community along with around 100 supporters participated at the city’s first-ever ‘Gujarat LGBT Pride Festival’ march on Sunday morning.
The 4-km-long rally began at 9 am from Income Tax circle and headed to Gandhi ashram. The march aimed at demanding equal rights, right to same-sex marriages and acceptance in society for the community. It was organised by the LGBT community in association with Swalambi Chuwal Mandal.
Participants wore colourful clothes, donned masks, held rainbow flags and placards demanding equality and breaking stereotypes. Police were also present to ensure a peaceful rally. Political figures like mayor Meenaxi Patel and member of standing committee Shambu Vataliya were also present to support the cause.
The rally was initiated by Falguni Prajapati, who has been conducting rallies for HIV awareness since 2000. “Initially, I thought such a rally will not be supported as gays and the issue of their rights is very controversial. But I was delighted to see such a positive response. The community also deserves equal rights and respect in the society, just like all of us,” she said.
The event saw support from Nepal too with Jass, a participant of the rally, flying down to stand for the cause. “We don’t face such a problem in Nepal as not too many people know about us and so gays and lesbians get married. When the Indian Constitution guarantees equal rights for all, then why does it differentiate among people based on their sexual preferences?”
According to the organisers, some members of the community have the support of their families whereas most are boycotted.
A participant who was boycotted by his family said: “I belong to an affluent family. But when I told my family about my preference for the same sex, they didn’t support me and asked me leave. So, I relocated to another city. As I could not find work I ended up being a sex worker. Today I have friends like me and I am here to support them.”
Another participant, Apurva from London, said that he realised in grade nine that he had different sexual preferences.
“My family took some time but eventually accepted my choice. However, at work I was treated like an alien and so my family sent me to London. Today I have notice acceptance for us and wish that the society changes for good.”
