The 12th anniversary of Namma Pride was "The Walk of Tribute and Remembrance" to celebrate all those instrumental to the LGBTQ+ movement.
“One, two, three, four, break open your closet door!” “Happy Pride!” “We’re here, we’re queer!” a hundred cheers rose to the sky on Sunday afternoon as people hit the streets — Bengaluru was celebrating its 12th Namma Pride. Starting from one of the gates of the Kempegowda Metro Station, accompanied by dance, music and sheer joy, hundreds joined in to participate in the march organised by the Campaign for Sexuality Minorities Rights (CSMR), a coalition of several LGBTQ groups and individuals based in Bengaluru. “This is for everyone who is afraid to come out; today is there to encourage them, to support them,” said Johnson, beaming, waving a bright rainbow-coloured scarf around. People across ages, genders and sexualities marched for pride in Bengaluru and some even got their children along. And the constant accompaniment to the joy? The sounds of drums, with the band thoroughly enjoying themselves — encouraging participants to just let go. “This is one of my first marches since I came out, I am so excited to be here, the environment, it’s just awesome to be here,” Priyesh* told TNM, from under a large LGBTQ+ flag being carried by around a dozen people. Started in 2008, Namma Pride has seen the numbers grow over the past decade. Sunday’s march covered a distance of about five kilometres, starting from Tilak Park and culminating at Townhall in Bengaluru. The 12th anniversary of Namma Pride was "The Walk of Tribute and Remembrance" to pay respects to all those who have been instrumental to the LGBTQ+ movement and remembering lives lost in the fight for equal rights. Parag, one of the participants, was in town from Pune, and told TNM, “India is changing and I am happy that Section 377 is scrapped, wow. And I am hoping for a lot more things, a lot more change in India.” But also looming over Bengaluru Pride 2019 was the controversial Trans Bill 2019, which is being debated in the Rajya Sabha. Held up alongside the LGBTQ flag was a large trans flag as well and many placards shouted slogans condemning the Trans Bill, demanding that their voices be heard too. “The number of participants from the transgender community was lesser this year... they were really, really unhappy and maybe they are dispirited because of the Bill. We look forward to the government changing things this year,” gay rights activist Anthony Peter Sylvester told TNM. *Name changed
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