Pride March 09 - Bengaluru aka Bangalore, India

It's Pride's second year in Bangalore. It's strange that it begins at the quintessential Kannadiga's bastion that I am told Basavanagudi is. I am not sure if the lookers on grasp what the rainbow flag, masked men/ women/ trans sexual are all about; why so many cameras, men in pink wigs, the  boisterous sloganeering, drumming  or "dirty" dancing. And that number they don't associate with top polity's current dilemma : Indian Penal Code, Section377.  [Section 377: Unnatural offences: Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.] News article: http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=259605

 

The ones who were little fuzzy, issue-wise, and didn't make the parade numbers, did some armchair participation by asking themselves: would a walk through the streets end up opening a window of thought for a man/woman who does not even consider anything other than heterosexuality "natural" But consider that a start.

 Meanwhile we pass through Sajjan Rao Circle that has a dome, elaborately carved in Dravidian style, dominating the crossroad. I see a less than curious family in their balcony, with one enthusiastic photographer who has just made friends with them, for a nice overhead shot of the long rainbow flag. What won't I give to get inside the girl's head to see what she sees -- a monsoon carnival? Did her father explain when she asked?

 On ground, what I see is what we'd feared -- a get-together of an incestuous group of activists, journalists, gays, lesbians, transsexuals.And even then, the numbers weren't as huge as expected. The slogans were cute,creative "My boyfriend thinks I am gay", "I am the pink sheep of the family"-- the singing infrasonic.  

 But the media is here and hundreds of people, some of whomI've known to have tough pasts. I see two faces from last year, who advocate for LGBT rights. They look older, tired, reflective, today. The younger ones are alive, they are having a ball. Some have migrated from Kerala, AP and TamilNadu just to find acceptance in this city are upbeat, they are dancing to the drums today. One, who's been brave enough to come out, blows bubbles into all the colour. And then there is a handful like us, rallying for the right to express sexuality and the right to love.

 You are walking amidst stories that settle down at the final stop, on Town Hall's stairs -- a little tired from the 7km walk, but hopefully a lot more resolute.   

-Malvika

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