Bhubaneswar: “Kaun sa law sabse battar? 377! 377!” shouted the crowd on Saturday afternoon while walking across the road, raising their rainbow coloured flags in support of the LGBTQIA community in Odisha.
More than a hundred youngsters from Bhubaneswar, with painted faces and rainbow coloured clothes held their placards high to create awareness about the queer community and sensitise the public.
The parade started from Raj Mahal Square and concluded near Forum Mart in Saheed Nagar with the queer community speaking about the acceptance of their gender.
Sakha founder and a popular Trans activist, Meera Parida, along with other members of her organisation dressed up in beautiful attires spoke about how the movement had very little support in 2009. “This year, we are glad that so many people have turned up and are walking in solidarity with the queer community,” she said.
Bijaya Biswal, the brain behind the event, also walked along with the crowd in her rainbow cape. “I am overwhelmed at the response. I hope that when we conduct this next year, Section 377 will have been scrapped and homosexuality will be legal,” she said.
Students from BJB College also joined the parade shouting, “Jhoom ke lenge- AAZADI, Choom ke lenge- AAZADI”.
Venkatesh stood out in the crowd in his maroon kurta and a shiny nose ring speaking out aloud about how his parents have accepted him as a gay. “I am from Kolkata and have been going for pride parades. It’s really good to see that the people here are so supportive. I hope we have more such movements. Section 377 definitely needs to be scrapped and that is all we are fighting for,” he said. The acceptance, he added, has to stem from within and the family members too.
Queer people from around 29 states participated in the parade.
“I am not a part of the community but I came along to express my support and solidarity towards them and I will continue to do so because I believe in this cause,” said a student, Tirtha Tilak Pani.
Bhubaneswar has earlier had Rainbow Pride events in 2009, 2010 and 2011. In 2012, a pride walk was held in Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi. There also was a transgender focussed Pride Walk in 2017 in the city.
Prior to the parade this year, various events like queer film screening, literature reading and panel discussions were held in the city.
(All pictures clicked by Sweta Mishra)
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