Organized by the Queer Azaadi Mumbai collective, the march saw well over 6000 supporters of the LGBTQ cause walk the streets of South Mumbai on a rather warm Saturday afternoon.
Dressed in their best pride finery, the crowd marched from August Kranti Maidan to Opera House and back while decrying discrimination and cheering on everyone in their fight for justice against Section 377.
The march was a riot of colours and fanfare, as the crowd danced to the beats of drums through the busy congested streets, with giant Pride flags and balloons.
Two men who had tied the knot in a traditional Hindu ceremony before the march proudly proclaimed their newly married status with a banner that read ‘Love knows no gender’.
A few other men also chose to dress as groom and groom
Sushant Divgikar, India’s representative at the Mr Gay World pageant last year and a well known TV personality, walked in his famous peacock dress.
Activist Harrish Iyer dressed up as a gypsy with both male and female personalities, a ‘sampoorn’ being.
Harrish Iyer at QAM 2015
A significant gathering of parents holding up placards reading ‘I’m proud of my gay child’ walked as well, as did siblings of gay and lesbian people.
Some walked with brightly painted face.
Some in drag and impossibly high heels. Some made a political statement with their caged status under Section 377.
Some highlighted the dichotomy between their accepted and assigned genders amd mocked the ‘Ghar Wapasi’ campaign of VHP.
As the march ended to a close at the starting point, brightly coloured rainbow balloons were released in the air amidst loud cheers.
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