Amid all the pride in the march is a struggle, say sexual minorities.
Over 1,300 members and supporters of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual) community took part in Bengaluru Pride and Karnataka Queer Habba 2013 on Sunday.
Organised by Campaign for Sex workers and sexual Minorities Rights (CSMR), the participants went on a march from Majestic railway station to Town Hall, to draw attention towards issues confronted by the community.
Supporters and members of the community traveled from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh to show their solidarity for concerns transcending social, legal and economic barriers.
This was the sixth Pride March in the city, and presented a platform for the community to express its sensitive demands. The Queer Habba was a celebration of their existence, and an indication of their needs, said a member of the community. Hundreds of employees of the LGBT networks of corporate and software companies joined the march.
“We’re here because it’s time people recognise us, our feelings and relations,” said Sriram Kumaran, who works in a software company. Many others echoed his intentions as they brought with them, a set of demands.
“Thirteen sexual minorities were arrested in Hassan and we appeal to the Karnataka government to dismiss the case,” remarked Akkai Padmashali, an activist of Karnataka Sexual Minorities Forum (KSMF).
To Mallapa, the state coordinator of KSMF, a gender minority welfare board must be constituted immediately. “Current laws provide that two beds be allocated for us. But the problem is that no one knows how different our bodies are. Our doctors and nurses must first be educated about us. And so is the case with many other provisions.”
Some of their other demands included the repulsion of Karnataka Police Act 36 (A) citing violation of the community’s fundamental rights, providing a legal basis to guard them against hate crimes and granting accessibility to basic services and entitlements such as voters id, housing insurance and driving licence. The community also called for the revision of current laws on adoption, marriage and inheritance.
Thank you Bangalore, they say
“We rarely get a chance to express ourselves and be who we are. Psychologically, Bangalore has grown much in the past five years and I’m proud of my city. We’ve proven that we’re a progressive society and this is a milestone,” said Padmashali. “It is not the politicians or the judiciary we try to interact with, but the public.”
Teja Singh, a member of the LGBT community, traveled from Chennai for the fourth consecutive year to be part of the march. “I love the crowd in Bangalore. They’re open and accepting.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}