Here’s What India Did For This Year’s Pride Month

By Devraj Bollareddy

Every year, June 28th is celebrated as Pride Month across the globe in memory of the 1969 Stonewall riots, where the members of the LGBTQ+ communities and their allies celebrate their identities through this month and work together to achieve equal justice and equal opportunities for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.

In June, celebrations are held all over the world to commemorate and recognize the impact the LGBTQ+ community has had over the world. With pride month coming to an end, let’s take a look at what India has done to celebrate this year’s pride month.

There were many parades held in India, with every major city having some sort of parade taking place in it.

Delhi’s Queer pride parade is organized by the Delhi Queer Pride committee each year and it initially started out in 2008 with only a few hundred in attendance. Now, the parade attracts thousands of participants, and their 2018 parade featured participants dancing their way under a 15-foot rainbow flag.

The Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk is famously known as India’s and South Asia’s oldest pride parade with the first one taking place in 1999 with only a couple of participants.

Bangalore is another city that is extremely queer-friendly and open to the LGBTQ+ community. They have held many events across pride month over the past few years, their Lesbian Dykes on Bikes event and the annual Bangalore Queer Film Festival are some of its iconic staple LGBTQ+ events.  

Apart from parades, there were also large-scale parties held across Indian cities. In Mumbai, the Gaysi Family X Absolut event was a free entry event and the party is all about creating a safe space where you can 100% be yourself. Another event the Gaysi Family hosted was in Delhi and was in collaboration with Tinder. The Queer made weekend was held at the DLF Promenade in Delhi on the 25th and 26th of June.

This weekend-long festival brings together queer brands, influencers, musicians, artists, and creators together to dance, enjoy and maybe even purchase items from local queer-led brands.

Also Read: Celebrate Pride Month By Listening To These LGBTQIA+ Titles on Audible!