This is the official blog about the Queer Azaadi March planned by Mumbai-based queer community organisations and individuals on 16th August 2008 (‘queer’ is used here as an inclusive, umbrella term for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, intersexuals, genderqueer, etc, and as an antonym for the heteronormative).
On 16th August 2005, Mumbai witnessed a large-scale protest demonstration at Flora Fountain by several queer community groups and individuals. The activists erected a temporary structure and gave out leaflets and queer publications, and got many ordinary citizens to sign a petition for queer rights. The activists also carried placards, shouted slogans, sang songs of queer azaadi and held a candlelight vigil in memory those we had lost. The following two years, on the same date, The Humsafar Trust, organized a march; in 2006, from Lokmanya Tilak (Sion) Hospital to Maheshawari Udyan and in 2007 from Santacruz Station (East) to Humsafar ’s Vakola office. Over 150 people participated last year.
The choice of date, 16th August, was in order to make a statement that while the rest of India had got its independence from the British on this date in 1947, queer Indians were still bound by a British Raj law (Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, introduced in 1860) and Victorian mores that have corrupted traditional Indian acceptance of alternate sexualities.
The march aims to highlight issues that affect queer communities in India, e.g., Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalizes same-sex intercourse; the undue pressure brought on queer people to enter into heterosexual marriage; the advocacy and use of aversion therapy by some mental health professionals; discrimination at the workplace; the lack of specific anti-discrimination laws; and homo- and transphobia in general.
We will update this blog with announcements, our meeting minutes and photos. Please add the main URL to your RSS feed or bookmark it.
If you have questions or comments, please use the comment box below. You can also get in touch with any of the organisations mentioned on this site or write to Geeta Kumana, who is coordinating the Queer Azaadi March, at geeta.kumana@gmail.com
July 10, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Please will you kindly let me know the final date,time and place for the march well in advance,so that I can persuade my friends and others too on the net to take part in it.
July 10, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Ronnie,
It’s on 16th August 2008. Assembly time 3 pm. Please viist this blog regularly for updates and the march route.
Cheers,
Nitin
July 10, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Is it only for the Mumbaikars, or we also can join? Am eager to be there amongst you all!
July 11, 2008 at 4:11 am
Anis, we are eager to have as many people particpate as possible too! Everyone – queer and people who support us – is free to join in; from all over the world, not just India.
Hope to see you there!
July 11, 2008 at 5:16 am
I shall be there to support the movement, specially the sec. 377 repeal/amend part.
July 11, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I’m coming up to Mumbai from bangalore to support the existentially hidden GLBT community in Pune. Is someone coming from there?? I’d offer a free ride to them… atleast one way
I read the minutes… What about the bisexual community?? there’s nothing about the bisexual community.. I want to put the B back in GLBT!!!
July 12, 2008 at 8:29 am
dear friends in mumbai, we mumbaikars in delhi are thrilled that queer azaadi is being organised in mumbai and we will be there in strength to support
July 12, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I am definitely going to be there with my friends from Pune.
Is there any financial contribution we can make to assist for the preparations? If yes, how?
July 14, 2008 at 9:39 am
Hey Keith,
Maybe all of us can drive down together. Nitin has sent me details of someone else who’s going to be going down too… sound like a plan?
Apphia
July 16, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I was a little annoyed when Bombay didn’t figure in the pride marches along with other cities, but I guess you guys had something bigger and better planned
So here’s wishing you the best of luck, and hope it is a huge success!
Cheers,
July 22, 2008 at 9:42 am
Hey guys..
Great news..will definitely join you all will persuade my friends to come along…
July 26, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Dear Nitin,
I have a suggestion. First timers and people who are still coming to terms with their sexuality are often scared about getting caught with queeny men(i was scared too when i was coming to terms with my sexuality). Secondly, with crappy channels galore, one would be afraid of getting caught in camera.
The Solution: how about having a separate toli, which would be called “Friends of Queer” where in fag hags, male friends of gays, family members etc could walk in. So if a first timer gets caught on camera, and is quizzed by his friends or family
he could just say ” I was supporting my gay friend. I was supporting the cause.” and deny that he is queer. We could also have banners that could read “I have a Queer Pal”, “I have a Gay Friend, Do You” and stuff like that. I guess this will help in getting more people to join in. It should be publicized as a “I support My Gay Friend” group of the Queerzaadi march.
InJoy
Aham
August 2, 2008 at 9:55 am
…from mysore
we wish all of activity going well;
once more, please aware about “security”;
so do well…hmn like face on exam…
as one of ‘bi’ these act so important…
where lot of youth being confused to lead the way, therefore, best of luck brother sister n lovely friends…!!!
God Bless You
August 17, 2008 at 4:19 pm
[...] call will be issued during the first gay pride march in Mumbai for three years and is part of a wider campaign to abolish a Section 377 of the Indian penal code [...]
August 31, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I moved out of India thinking that Im out of homophobia. Sadly, it is as bad as India. When it comes to being gay (abnormal to the world) the heterosexual world hates it. Hetrosexuality has ruled this earth for centuries and leaving all the non-hetrosexuals walk like dead souls. I am spiritual and I am gay. I believe God has made me like this for a purpose and I am sure will accomplish it and walk into heaven. I thank god for giving the courage and strength to all those who participated in this great event. Wish I could be one of them shouting my breath away supporting to abolish section 377. I am still hiding my identity to protect my family and friends reputation. Its so hard to lock this secret from my loved ones since my childhood. Section 377 must be abolished to save thousands of Queer Indians and give them every legal protection and allowances. A question to my fellow hetrosexual brothers and sisters: “how will you deal with the fact if your father, mother, brother, sister, close relative or your best friend is Queer?” I know the reality sucks, but these things have happened in the past. How does it matter to you whom they love and sleep with? Do you really love them? At the end of the day ‘Society’ decides the norms and section 377 is surely a life threatning and a demeaning factor for your loved ones. I know some Queers who keep hitting on hetrosexuals and damage other Queer’s reputation. Hey not all hetrosexuals are so well mannered either. My point here is that, lets treat everyone with respect irrespective of our sexual preference. If you still wish to be a homophob, well good luck with it.
August 13, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Sure i ‘ll be there with you all LGBT
as i proud to be a gay
August 14, 2009 at 4:32 am
Am a gay, and would liek to join the in 16-Aug March too. Its a sunday and shouldnt be a big deal to come over.
Howveer, as one of the online friend says, like him and a few others, even am extremely scared of being caught on camera. Im not out to my close friends and family members yet, but i do have a boyfriend.
can you please suggest in such a situation what can i do?
i wud surely want to join, but vvvv anonymously.
cheers to all,
Ken
August 14, 2009 at 5:09 am
Kenny, thanks for your comment. There are many gay people like you who are proud and brave to march but don’t wish to be seen in the media for various reasons. If you come early enough, say 2-2.30 pm, you can pick up one of the many masks that we are distributing. Or bring one of your choice. Perhaps, you can even pick something up from the azaadbazaar exhibition today/tomorrow or try something innovative of your own to largely mask your face. And in case your image does appear in the press and someone queries you, it should be okay to say that you were there to show solidarity with your LGBT friend(s)/colleague(s)/family. Because there will be several such heterosexual people supporting their loved ones.
August 16, 2009 at 9:40 am
Nitin Karani, the International Association of LGBT Pride Coordinators will be having its general meeting in Florida, US on Oct. 15. If you are interested in sending a representative for Pride celebrations, please log on to http://www.interpride.org. Or email me.