Group of parents to join Pride March today

A group of parents of LGBTQ children are to walk the Queer Azaadi march under one banner for the first time along with other members of the community on Saturday. The march will start at 3 pm from August Kranti Maidan. The group, Sweekar, is participating in the march with the aim to spread the importance of parents' acceptance of their LGBTQ children.

Last year, the march witnessed around 14,000 participants and expects an equal or bigger number this year around.

Queer Azaadi, or Pride March, is a parade of members from the city's LGBTQ community to state and express their existence in society. Harish Iyer, a professor and LGBTQ activist will march along with his students. The Pink Singers from London will be participating in the event as well.

The parents participating are those who have accepted their child's sexuality and are taking part in the event to set an example for other parents to emulate. "The parents of LGBTQ members of the community will be walking under the banner of Sweekar in the parade with a message. Parents usually do come and have walked the parade but this will be the first time that a group of parents will be walking together," said Sridhar Rangayan, Head, Sweekar.

The month-long Pride Month celebrations end with the pride parade followed by an after party.