Call for equal rights as state hosts its first ‘Pride Parade’

Neha Saini

Tribune news service

Amritsar, June 23

British rock band Queen’s iconic and probably most controversial song ‘I want to Break Free’ played loud and clear just as the first ‘Pride Parade of Punjab’ commenced from Rose Garden in Ranjit Avenue. The weather changed for good on an otherwise hot Sunday afternoon and the organisers of the parade, most of them teenagers, hoped that the mindsets change for good as well.

City-based youth Ridham Chadha and Ramit Seth, both 18, conceived the idea of hosting a pride parade in the heart of Punjab. They got support from Ludhiana-based NGO Project Kushal, also run by a group of youngsters. “Pride parade is a symbol of peace, love, freedom and of course, protest. Since June is being celebrated as the pride month, we decided that a maiden parade should be held in June despite the peak summer. We had 100 participants, all either members of the LGBT community or allies of the community,” Ridham said.

Leading the parade was Mohini Mahant (53), the first transgender jurist of a bench of the National Lok Adalat in Punjab. An activist for LGBT rights, Mohini said such attempts were significant in opening the doors of a closet. “The members of the LGBT community are isolated, abused, often misunderstood and labelled for life. Despite being educated, they do not get jobs and have to face social boycott. All these things have to change and small steps like these are required towards bringing a bigger change,” said the masters degree holder in public administration and social work.

Mohak, co-founder of Project Kushal, said though metro cities were open to hosting pride parades, Punjab never had one. “Unfortunately, while the world is waking up to the cause of the LGBT community and their rights, Punjab is yet to participate in the movement. Amritsar has been a seat of many national movements in country’s history and we thought that this city would definitely be a part of another one.”

Youngsters turned up in rainbow colours, slogans and painted faces to support the rights of the LGBT community. “Most people don’t even want to talk about the LGBT community, leave aside standing up for their rights. All matters relating to sexuality are hushed up or rubbished. It is time we raise our voice against the stigmatisation of the LGBT community and also support them in getting equal rights, jobs and respect in society,” said Anna, a student from Amritsar, who was a part of the organising committee.

Amidst the noise caused by the decriminalisation of Article 377, Ramit said things had still not changed for the community. “And they will not change until the mindsets change. Our parents are still not open to the idea of accepting and embracing their child’s sexuality, how can we expect the world to do so? We are working towards sensitising people and the ignorance that surrounds the entire subject,” he said.