What is the 'Pride Month'?

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+ community) Pride Month is celebrated each year in the month of June in the honor of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan.

June 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the annual LGBTQ+ Pride traditions. The first pride march took place on 28th of June in 1970. This day grew into a month-long series of events, attracting millions of participants around the world. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally!

Every year during the month of June, pride parades are held all over the world that celebrate the progress made in the LGBTQ civil rights and also to acknowledge the different hues of the LGBTQ+ community.

India's first pride parade was held in the City of Joy, Kolkata in 1999, which was named as 'Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk'! 

It all started with the Stonewall riots, things were not as progressive as they are today. People belonging to the LGBTQ+ community lived all their lives hiding who they were. Back in 1950's-60's, their were very few establishments that didn't even recognize gay people in them, and if they did it was in underground bar type settings. These places were often raided by the police, solely due to the patrons they had.

Back in the late 1960's, there was a specific bar in New York City called the Stonewall Inn, this was one of the places that was tolerant of the LGBTQ folks and allowed gathering of their like. Unfortunately, it was often raided by the police. But, one night of late June in year 1969, the guests at the Stonewall Inn have had enough. When the police came barreling through the doors to raid the place, those who were there refused to leave. They spoke up against the police and protested against them in a way that was never ever seen before.

The brave customers banded together and protested against the police, all through the night and in the morning. As the word spread all through the place, members from all over the city flogged around the Stonewall Inn and supported the LGBTQ+ community. These riots sparked activists groups to create a place for the people from the LGBTQ+ community, where they could get open about their sexual orientation.

Close to 4 a.m. in the morning, the police officers barricaded themselves inside the Stonewall Inn to keep themselves safe, as the mob outside the inn was fuming with rage and a very very large group of people gathered there.

Due to this protests, gay rights were on the forefront and progress was made. All the hues of the beautiful community are legally recognized now, they can get married and adopt a child!

As members of the Mattachine Society of Washington, Frank Kameny and Lilli Vincenz participated in the planning, discussion and promotion of the first ever pride parade along with other activists in New York City and other homophile groups belonging to E.R.C.H.O.

By all estimates, more than 3,500 marchers participated in the inaugural pride parade in New York City!

Watch the documentary footage of the first pride parade in NYC here- https://www.loc.gov/item/mbrs01991430

                                                                                          

WHY DOES IT BOTHER ME BEING A INDIAN?

The picture is bleak for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer in India. Though, the Supreme Court struck down Section 377 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) on 6th September, 2018, which criminalized same-sex relationships in Navtej Singh Johar  vs. Union of India. The Supreme Court of India also made a sweeping judgement in NALSA vs. Union of India, which held that transgender people should legally be recognized by their gender identity, enjoy full fundamental rights, and receive special benefits in eduaction and employment.

Legal changes are important, but much more is needed for LGBTQ+ people in India to live without discrimination and with dignity! Young people who are bullied in school are are less likely to succeed and more likely to find themselves vulnerable to discrimination and violence as adults!

Around 2.5 million population has been reported as the LGBTQ+ community of India. Gender identity and enumerating sexual orientation with anti-bullying polices is an important decision which acknowledges diversity and protection to vulnerable individuals. 

Homosexuality, Bisexuality or being a Transgender was never a crime or was considered illegal in ancient India or in Hindu traditions, it was in the colonial period that it was deemed as a crime during their rule in India, to gain more power over people.

The Hindu Khajuraho temple, famous for its erotic sculptures, contain some depictions of homosexual activity. Hinduism has traditionally portrayed homosexuality as natural and inherent, and acknowledges a third gender and has strong tradition of portraying them positively. Shikhandi who is born female but identifies as male and eventually marries a woman. One more example is Ardhnarishvara, created by the merging of Lord Shiva and his wife whose half right body is full male body and half left body is full female body.

So, their is no point, not accepting homosexuality or any other hue of the LGBTQ+ community on the grounds of tradition and saying that it is a foreign concept and it is against the hindu traditions.

Nonetheless, the people of the LGBTQ+ community in India, remains closeted, fearing their family's reactions, thoughts and discrimination. If the family decides to accept their child's identity, the relatives have a much bigger problem than the parents. Eventually, the relative's turns into society, which in turn has different opinions, thoughts and perspective to the whole situation!

India falls under the 'second-wave' of the democratic countries. India has been independent for 72 years and is considered a developing countries. India is one of the 125 countries which deems homosexuality and bisexuality legal, and recognizes transgender people's identity as a gender. I am very proud being a Indian because I feel India is much more fast-progressive than any other country in the world! 

At its 71st year as a independent country, India legalized homosexuality and bisexuality. India with its rich heritage and history, embarks at many new things every year. The main thing is we the citizens of India, need to think open and straight. Indian is a hue of many different communities and societies, we need to change our thinking a little as the time passes, then only can the government help us. 

I believe that we should remove the band-aid slowly, we can't right away ask the judiciary to amend the marriage and adoption policies for the LGBTQ+ community, let the society accept and recognize them as alike and normal human beings, then only can we propose the thought of the amendment of the marriage and adoption policy. If, we rip off the band-aid at one go and leave the wound open, it would create a disorder and chaos. Best mantra is- One Thing At A Time.

Today, our focus should be to give them their full enjoyment of fundamental and human rights, with some anti-bullying rights to control the unruly. Give the deprived their share and a provide them a standard of living!

Comment down your thoughts below, I would love to know your opinions and I am subject to criticism! Share it with your friends and family!

Be Human! Be Proud! Spread Love!