In the year 1999 on a balmy July day, the city of Kolkata hosted India’s first-ever Pride Parade, called the Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk. Cut to 2020, pride marches now take place annually across various cities in India. It’s one day when the LGBTQAI+ community takes to the streets, proudly wave the rainbow flag, and celebrate their queer identity out in the public. The biggest celebration came in 2018, when the Supreme Court of India struck down section 377, a law that criminalised homosexual sex in India.
However, the pride parade isn’t just a happy march with rainbow flags. It is a platform for dissent, and participants are often known to use it to vocalise important issues. In 2017, pride parades all over India collectively condemned the proposed Transgender Persons Bill 2016–which the community termed ‘regressive’. The same year, the march in Guwahati condemned severely the AFSPA and demanded its repeal.
After the centre passed the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act earlier this month, protests have broken out all over India. Fearing that the pride parade might turn into another anti-CAA protest, the Mumbai Police on Wednesday denied permission to the Humsafar Trust, organisers of the march. The annual march was to start from the historic August Kranti Maidan and conclude at the same place after passing through Nana Chowk, Kennedy Bridge, Opera House and Maharshi Karve Marg. Around 15,000 members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community were expected to participate in the march.
Also Read: #PrideParade: Delhi Paints Itself In All Shades Of Rainbow & Opposes Transgender Bill 2019
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A police official told a leading daily, “Officers of the Agripada police station denied permission to the march on the ground that slogans against the Union government, CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) might be raised during the event.”
The police also issued a notice to the organisers under section 149 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, informing that they would be held responsible for law and order issues if the event is organised at the same spot.
Also Read: Did A Queer Friend Just Come Out To You? Here’s How You Can Support Them!
After Humsafar Trust received the notice, they held a meeting with the police and decided to shift the venue to Mumbai’s Azad Maidan instead. This venue is also a popular site for anti-CAA protests, and in fact, some are slated to take place there on the same day.
Unsurprisingly, members of the queer community were not happy with the venue change. They have expressed their displeasure over the police curbing their freedom and made it clear that while they will march tomorrow, it will NOT be a celebration. Here’s what they are saying:
We have secured permissions for everyone's safety to gather in solidarity with Mumbai Pride at Azaad Maidan.
February 1, 2020
3pm-6pm
Azaad Maidan*Do note. It is not a celebration this time. *
Azaad Maidan is right outside CSMT and walkable from Churchgate Railway Station
— Queer Azaadi Mumbai (Mumbai Pride) (@queer_azaadi) January 30, 2020
Come in large numbers. Show them that we are not a miniscule minority. We are queer and we are here!
As you may know, Queer Azaadi Mumbai has been denied the permission to march at August Kranti Maidan.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/nx9QVUfgA0— Queer Azaadi Mumbai (Mumbai Pride) (@queer_azaadi) January 30, 2020
They're so scared. Scared that we will unite in our struggles. Scared we know our revolution is intersectional.
Scared we can see that we don't live single issue lives, and neither are our fights single issue.And all this is done for our security ofc. Like they did for Kashmir. pic.twitter.com/FSyUMaMkLe
— Smita (@smitav18) January 29, 2020
Our rights and our freedoms, cannot be sacrificed. Silence is the biggest violence. Stand up. Speak up.
Literally, we have been denied our pride. #PrideKidhar? pic.twitter.com/2TnGolstyb
— harish 🏳️🌈 (@hiyer) January 29, 2020
LGBT r an equally important yet harassed part of the society. Huge respect to police for maintaining peace but denying them outrightly the only support they have because of political paranoia is totally unfair.
Highly dissappointed with you @MumbaiPolice #PrideKidhar— Saahil (@Saahil20794146) January 30, 2020
First they came for Muslims & Dalits and now for #LGBT and soon they will engulf everyone of u till u don't crawl like beggers in front of them #PrideKidhar https://t.co/vusu1F0oOH
— Sahil Prasad🌈 (@laxmi407) January 29, 2020
Mumbai police has denied permission to pride something that I look forward to every year. A chance to be surrounded by a community that loves and understands me I beg all our allies to use their privilege and speak out about this. Please do not let me censor us #PrideKidhar
— Tiyasha Krishnatrey (@ti_ya_sha) January 29, 2020
If you happen to be in Mumbai, we urge you to join the paraders in their march against the police’s attempt to throttle to voices of an already marginalised community.
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