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Thousands of people along with their friends came along to celebrate the freedom of homosexual people in Mumbai for the first time after India’s Supreme Court struck down Section 377 — a colonial law that criminalised gay sex in India — on 2 February 2019.
Over 15,000 people marched down from Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan to Opera House, Kennedy Bridge, celebrating their freedom and pushing for wider acceptance. Here are electric photographs from the 11th edition of The Queer Azaadi Mumbai Pride 2019
The ‘Queer Azaadi Mumbai Pride 2019’ witnessed the participation of over 15,000 supporters and members of the queer community. Interestingly, August Kranti Maidan is the place where Mahatma Gandhi began Quit India Movement against Britishers in 1942.
IANS
The participants were seen in an electric mood — waving flags, shouting slogans and walking in unison to celebrate reading down of Section 377, which was seen as one of the country’s most draconian laws.
IANS
The ‘Queer Azaadi Mumbai Pride’ is one of the biggest LGBT events celebrated every year to support the LGBTQIA+ community in India. This was the first gay pride parade after Supreme Court decriminalised homosexuality in September 2018.
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This year’s theme was “Pride for All”. The parade included 27 events, which were primarily designed to educate, enlighten make people aware about the LGBTQIA+ community.
IANS
What made it special this year were a large number of parents who shun stereotypes and walked with their children, fearless and free.
IANS
Supporters from outside of Mumbai also joined in to support the movement.
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In September 2018 , India’s top court struck down Section 377 by calling it ‘manifestly arbitrary’
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While recognising LGBTQIA+ community was a big leap for India, it still has a far way to go before the country addresses the issues related to same-sex marriages and adoption of a child by a gay couple.