To make the Indian constitution more inclusive of its LGBT population, the Mumbai Pride March, organised by Queer Azadi Mumbai (QAM), is held on the first weekend after Republic day.
Prior to the March, the LGBT community organises a Pride Week that encompasses numerous events held in public forums to educate people about LGBT issues, and explain to them that we are no different from them.
Gossip, a group of young LGBT entrepreneurs, organised a QAM fundraiser party at a suburban pub on Jan 13. At around midnight, as I was walking towards the exit, the venue staff told us that we could not leave since there were police outside. This guy with kohl-lined eyes, sporting a ponytail, beard, and wearing a vest, was instructing the police to check on the party. Haji Ahmed Sahab Bawa (HASB), claiming to be a member of a political party, was showing the police videos that he had taken at the party.
The venue staff had been threatened, and had switched off the music. Naturally, this led to some commotion. Some of us stood at the gate, asking the cops why they were there. They said they were checking whether everything was in order and if the venue had the necessary permissions. They weren’t being very aggressive. HASB was giving them instructions while talking incessantly on the phone and shouting, “Media ko bulao.”
The organisers said they were within their legal rights to host a gay party. HASB claimed that his political party has ordered a stay in the Supreme Court against the reading down of Section 377. This is factually incorrect, as the Delhi High Court verdict was never stayed. Yet he kept threatening the police and the staff at the venue.
This is not Bawa’s first time. He has caused trouble at several other LGBT parties too. In most cases, people get shamed of being outed in the media about their sexuality. But this time, the LGBT community decided not to back down. An altercation followed as the crowd refused to get intimidated.
Eventually, about 40 of us landed at the Oshiwara police station demanding an explanation as to why the cops did not prevent Bawa from threatening us. Did Bawa’s political connections intimidate the police? The police were cordial and even apologised for what had happened. They said they have to act on any complaint that gets reported.
The outcome of the evening was an incomplete party: a community event that could have raised monies to fund the Pride March was disrupted. Because some self-proclaimed moral brigade decided to attack an already marginalised community that faces hostility, huge health risks and lack of access to services by virtue of their sexuality. Do we live in an age where anything goes just to get cheap publicity? The LGBT community asks its political parties what their stands are on this issue — will you give Bawa a ticket in the upcoming elections? In case you decide to, do reimburse the QAM fundraiser, since Bawa owes the LGBT community its money.
Pallav Patankar is the director of HIV Programmes with the Humsafar Trust, which is a part of QAM, a collective of LGBT groups and individuals in Mumbai
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