Over 7,000 people march as Mumbai's annual LGBT pride parade generates huge response

Mumbai witnessed its 8th annual LGBT pride parade on Saturday, with more than 7,000 people attending the event.

The parade, known as Queer Azaadi Mumbai, began at August Kranti Maidan at 4 pm, moved to Opera House and Kennedy Bridge before returning to the Maidan. The event was a considerable success once again with a lot of interest generated among Mumbaikars.

Beginning at 3 pm, pride parade organisers and volunteers assembled outside August Kranti Maidan, a park in south central Mumbai.

On an installed podium, many people then made speeches, including equal rights activist Harish Iyer, Chitra Palekar, and other activists. The star cast of Hindi flick 'Aligarh' - which is based on the death of a gay professor after being kicked out of Aligarh Muslim University - was also present. Lead actor Manoj Bajpai spoke to the raucous audience about his support for the cause. 

As the speeches continued, stands were set up at the back of the crowd, painting temporary tattoos onto people who wanted to wear their support on their faces. Small pride flags were distributed freely, as were banners created by Humsafar Trust and other organisations.

Participants dressed very colourfully. There were those who turned up dressed as drag queens, those who emulated Arab male costumes, people dressed as political figures from history etc. Individuals from many walks of life attended the event, including families, NGO workers and even a nun who helped hold up a banner.

Incredibly, many people including Aligarh screenwriter Apurva Asrani came out as gay for the first time during the event.

But the event was attended not only by persons identifying as gay, lesbian, transgender, asexual or queer, but also many 'straight allies' - people with a heterosexual orientation who support LGBT rights.  

"I was in drag. There is a lot of people who think that the ones who cross dress are weird. Some, even within the gay community think people should not dress effeminately, adding their prejudice towards effeminate gay men. My costume and get up was my solidarity towards them. It fact they are us - and not them," said Harish Iyer.

As the crowd began to move through the streets, towards Opera House, volunteers distributed leaflets regarding Section 377 and legal developments so far. The march began with drumbeats and the huge pride flag being carried at the front by dozens of enthusiastic supporters.

Crowds lined up along the footpaths to watch the scenes unfold - some curious, some happy, some spiteful. Random attempts at distributing leaflets were met either with looks of anger, uncertainty or an eager extension of the hand. People peered out of windows of homes, from terraces and shops eager to watch the parade pass.

As the drums played their rhythms, vehicles honked and onlookers stared, some participants broke into dance and song. Spaces were cleared for those who wished to do so, and the crowd clapped to the enthusiastic dancing.

In one unforgettable incidence, a group of commuters in a bus waved energetically at the crowd as the vehicle passed by. Here again, the response was varied. Some ridiculed the marchers, while others clapped and a few even encouraged the crowd with 'thumbs up' signs.

Eventually, the crowd of marchers made its way back to August Kranti Maidan at around 5:30 pm. Soon after, pride balloons were released into the sky to a chorus of cheers. The participants once again resorted to dancing, and slogans such as "Kaunsa law hai sabse battar? Teenso satattar teenso satattar," rent the air. Eventually, the crowd left the venue by 6 pm, bringing to an end a successful event.

The Mumbai Pride Parade, usually held in February every year, has attracted a lot of support since its inception, and the 2016 event continued this tradition. What was also heartening was the minimal police presence and the cooperative attitude of Mumbai Police.

The Supreme Court had on December 11, 2013 overturned a 2009 Delhi High Court judgement decriminalising same-sex intercourse, thus re-instituting the legal penalty applicable under Section 377. But on February 2, 2016, during a hearing of the curative petition submitted by the Naz Foundation and others against the 2013 verdict, the apex court decided to submit the matter to a five-judge bench for consideration, thus bringing some hope to the LGBT community and its straight allies.