In the last month바카라s Delhi Queer Pride Parade, we saw a counterculture to the pressing issues that have long deprived the community of their basic rights, be it their ongoing battle to marry whomever they want, the ostracism in institutions, or the hate and bullying they are subjected to in the unregulated cyberspace.
Carol Hanisch바카라s 1969 quote 바카라personal is political바카라 got a modern retelling at this year바카라s Delhi Queer Pride Parade on November 26. Just like the previous march this January, it started at Barakhamba Road and concluded at Jantar Mantar amid vociferous cheers of besharam Bollywood pyaar.
The march which spanned for three hours saw a turnout of more than a thousand Delhites who shed away their sullen November woollens to flaunt the many colours of their identity. However, this time around, the air was not just a celebration of one바카라s unique identity. For it was thick with something that has never been witnessed on such a massive scale before 바카라 dissent.
Unlike the phrase which was restricted to feminist circles, we saw a coming together of individuals from diverse socio-ethnologic backgrounds. These very people who have long been deprived of a platform to voice out their cause finally found an outlet to show dissent. We saw a counterculture to the pressing issues that have long deprived the community of their basic rights, be it their ongoing battle to marry whomever they want, the ostracism faced by queer youth in institutions due to lack of protection framework, or the hate and bullying they are subjected to in the unregulated cyberspace.
바카라This time we had the pride to voice out our opinions, the change we need, and our sufferings. We have many issues that require major and immediate attention starting from cyberbullying leading to rampant suicides. It was Arvey first and now Pranshu. We can바카라t keep losing queer kids like that,바카라 said Ayushi Krishna, a computer applications student who also belongs to the queer community.
This year, the Delhi Queer Pride Parade transcended its traditional avatar as it was not just a celebration but as it was as if the party itself had donned the cloak of protest. Banners, signs, and chants became powerful tools for expressing discontent with the current state of affairs and demanding change.
The parade became a rallying point for activists to push for inclusivity, equality, and societal acceptance. It served as a nexus of celebration, activism, and awareness, embodying the community's resilience and determination.
바카라Pride has always been political and a form of protest. As queers, we express our protest in a different manner 바카라 colourful, loud, and proud. This time, there was a stronger emphasis on protests, possibly influenced by the challenging sociopolitical climate both nationally and globally. Despite these daunting challenges, we remain determined to continue the fight and demonstrate that we are here, we are queer, and we will persist,바카라 said Suyash Srivastava, a volunteer with Delhi Queer Pride Parade.
There was a gloomy sense of air looming around as it had been just five days that the community mourned the loss of yet another queer teen.
On November 21, a self-taught 16-year-old queer creator named Pranshu Yadav took died by suicide. Pranshu, a class 10 student at Ujjain Public School in Madhya Pradesh, had been sharing content related to make-up on Instagram. Around Diwali, they posted a transition reel in which they wore a saree, which was targeted by trolls on social media. The reel received more than 4,000 hate comments which did not stop even after their death.
Pranshu was not the first queer child who died by suicide and they certainly were not the last. There were chants against this recurring yet heartbreaking narrative 바카라 one where queer teenagers seek refuge from a world marred by hatred, bigotry, and relentless bullying, one where taking their lives seems to be an easier option.
Nearly two years have passed but Aarti Malhotra, mother of late Arvey who died by suicide in February 2022, continues her quest for justice. She marked her presence at the parade this year. Though shaky with emotions, amongst the sea of voices, her slogans rose above the cacophony.
Arvey, a 16-year-old student at the Delhi Public School in Greater Faridabad, left a note to his mother disclosing that he had been bullied and sexually assaulted at school, prompting his decision to die by suicide. Since then, Aarti has been seeking justice for Arvey. In this case, justice is both delayed and denied.
Arti said, 바카라Arvey, my son, stands as a symbol for the quest for justice, and this fight resonates deeply with every youth in the community. Pride, in this context, emerges not just as a celebration but as a powerful platform that unites us in our collective pursuit for justice, amplifying our voices to address the challenges ahead.바카라
바카라However, there are other avenues too, such as rallies, online activism, and community forums, which also play vital roles in raising awareness and advocating for change,바카라 added Arti, who has been advocating for the justice of her lost son on Instagram among other platforms.
The community continues to ask the question: How many more queer lives need to be lost before the society creates a safe space for them?
The pride flag was not the only one that soared in the sky at the Delhi Queer Pride Parade. There were also stripes of green, white, and black with a dash of red found its place.
The Delhi Queer Pride badge found the company of Free Palestine badges which were being distributed around. Printouts denouncing Western consumerist brands through snarky wordplay were a hit among the attendees.
In the last two months, Delhi has witnessed a chain of protests for the Palestinian cause that got muffled. What could be a boiling pot of suppressed anger and resentment led to 바카라Queers for Palestine바카라 gaining momentum as a slogan on the P-Day.
This November, a photo of a gay Israeli soldier posing with the pride flag straight out of war-torn Gaza Strip sparked an outcry on the internet. The flag with 바카라In the name of love바카라 ironically sprawled across it was supposedly the 바카라first ever pride flag raised in Gaza바카라 as claimed by British comedian-script writer Lee Kern who first shared the photo on X (formerly Twitter).
This rekindled the entire debate around 바카라pinkwashing바카라, the practice of attempting to benefit from purported support for LGBTQ+ rights, often as a way to profit or to distract from a separate agenda바카라.
On social media, some brushed it off as a 바카라PR stunt바카라, while others called the post 바카라vile바카라 for 바카라using the suffering of LGBTQ+ people to try and manipulate them into supporting a genocide바카라.
바카라Modi ji, same-sex marriage ka haq kab denge?바카라 read one of the many placards raised at the pride this year.
The spotlight was majorly on the recent Supreme Court verdict on the legalisation of same-sex marriage which left the community disheartened yet again. The parade featured a multitude of signs condemning the Apex Court바카라s lack of support and also witnessed parents and family members showing support for their queer children.
While members of the community held onto the hope that the Parliament would one day acknowledge same-sex marriages through legislation, those participating in the march believed that this surely is a far-reaching goal.
The quest for acknowledgement of LGBTQ+ rights in India has been a challenging journey. It was not until 2018 that the Supreme Court, following two decades of protests, legal battles, and opposition, ultimately decriminalised homosexuality.
Recently, in its decision, a five-member bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud acknowledged that the LGBTQ+ community encounters discrimination from the state. However, the court refrained from engaging in 바카라judicial lawmaking바카라 regarding same-sex marriage, asserting that such a determination was beyond its scope and should be deliberated by the Parliament. Additionally, the court ruled against extending adoption rights to unmarried gay couples. The verdict yet again disappointed the LGBTQ+ community in India and they expressed this dismay at the parade.
바카라This pride was more than just celebrating our queerness. It was also about getting our personal issues out there for people in politics to know what is happening since I cannot go alone and say, 바카라Hey! Let me have a wife and adopt a kid.바카라 I'll have to scream it loud in these pride parades,바카라 said Ayushi Krishna, a computer applications student who also belongs to the queer community.
(Devanshi Batra and Roopashi Semalty are freelance journalists and students at the Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi. Views expressed are personal.)