My First March For Equality

Photography by: Praful Baweja

“I was feeling flustered seeing the large number of gay men and women around me as I realized I belong to the minority here. Then it struck me! This must be what gay people go through each day and it seriously takes strength to face that and carry on. That realization washed away whatever awkwardness I was feeling and gave me the assurance to march for equality.” These are the words of Ankit, 23, one among the many straight folks who participated in this year’s Queer Azaadi Mumbai gay pride march which was held on Feb 2nd.

Photography by: Gaylaxy Magazine

More than 2500 turned up for the pride march which also included considerable percentage of straight people to show their solidarity for their LGBT friends / relatives and to support the cause of equality. Mansi, a straight supporter opined we should celebrate our lives for being born as humans and there should be no divide amongst us. Many such sentiments were shared before the commencement of the procession. There was a mother who came for her gay son, a sister for her lesbian sister, but the most touching one was of the two sisters who were there to show support for their lesbian mother.

Photography by: Gaylaxy Magazine

Queer Azaadi Mumbai (QAM) is an umbrella of 20 key non-governmental LGBT support groups and organizations, institutionalized in 2008 to conduct the annual gay parade in Mumbai asking for equal rights of LGBTIQ (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersexed Queer) individuals. The first QAM parade in 2008 demanded reading down of IPC 377 that criminalized homosexuality and saw a turnout of about 500, a pleasant far cry from 15 during India’s first gay pride march (called the ‘Friendship March’) when held at Kolkata in 1999. However this year’s edition ran into a bit of chaos when the Mumbai traffic police denied permission. But thanks to the persistent efforts of QAM organizers, the police reconsidered their decision and the necessary permissions were in place just 5 days before the designated day. The organizers revealed that a horde of 35 permissions were required to carry on an event of this massive scale.

Photography by: Praful Baweja

Even though India embarked upon a post IPC 377 era with the landmark judgement by Delhi High Court decriminalizing homosexuality in July 2009, LGBT community is still at the receiving end of severe homophobia and is being subjected to various social stigmas. Even when World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as a mental illness in May 1990, many still view gay men and women as a ‘diseased’ lot. Parents look out to ‘cure’ their homosexual sons and daughters so that they can be fit into the customary societal norms of getting them married and bringing forth offsprings. There have been many instances of forced marriages of gay individuals which have ultimately resulted in divorces or even worse, led them to depression and suicides. Many sections of media and mainstream cinema still project homosexuality in bad taste with stereotypes and violate the private lives of an already marginalised community. Gay people are still being bullied and discriminated at educational institutes and work places.

Photography by: Praful Baweja

To highlight these plights, gay parades are now being organized at various cities as well as to force the public to take notice that homosexuality and transsexuality are very much existent in India. Perhaps one of the positive transitions that have come about is that people no longer feel the need to wear masks indicating a stronger self acceptance and confidence of who they are. This was my very first gay parade and even I didn’t feel like hiding my face though there were scores of shutterbugs capturing the colourful visuals of the carnival.

Photography by: Niyas Khader

Photography by: Niyas Khader

The procession saw sarcastic, thought provoking and funny banners and slogans. “1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. Homophobia out the door! 5.. 6.. 7.. 8.. Don’t assume your child is straight!” - a group of ladies shouted. The dhol nagada gave a spirited and vigorous ambiance of festivity. People danced and shouted slogans while the procession limped forward as curious onlookers watched from the pavements and nearby buildings. I felt a sense of blissfulness for being part of a movement, of a cause that I deeply believe in. Those 65 minutes of walk were in fact life changing moments for me. It was the first time I didn’t care what other people thought about me, I didn’t care if I was seen by a colleague or a friend, I didn’t care if I got clicked by the media. I even posted on my Facebook that I was walking the gay pride march so that my colleagues and friends could see.

Photography by: Niyas Khader

It is one thing to read or watch the pride parades, but it is an altogether different experience when you participate in one.. exhilarating to say the least!

Photography by: Praful Baweja

Thanks Praful Baweja, Niyas Khader and Gaylaxy Magazine for helping me with your photographs.

Check out these related posts too!
Bangalore Gay Pride March Montage By Amar Mitra
The Great Indian Mainstreaming Of Homosexuality
Indians Being Homophobic And More

This post is not over yet! Click here to continue reading.

Click here to shrink this post.

CSB Xclusive! Nolan Lewis - Mr. Gay India 2013

Photography by: Blake Woodhams

Introducing to you all this year’s Mr. Gay India, Nolan Lewis! Nolan would be the third Indian to represent our country at Mr. Gay World (MGW), ever since the pageant took off in 2009. Scheduled to take place from August 1st – August 5th, MGW 2013 will be held at Antwerp, Belgium. 

Nolan was born and brought up in Mumbai and has been a model since his college days. However realizing that modelling could not be a stable career option, he was on the search for other avenues that offered a regular income. He says now he is a self-employed man and is loving what he is doing currently. “I’m a tarot card reader and a crystal healer. Occasionally, I also write astrological columns for newspapers.” Even then, he decided to give modelling another go and has now signed a contract with a model agency. He has also done a video shoot for the popular Indian girl band - Viva’s music video, ‘Jahan Ho Pyar Ka Mausam’, along with Zoltan Parag, the first Indian to participate in Mr. Gay World pageant. 

For this 28 year old guy, Mr. Gay World was not something that he had planned out. Nolan was in Johannesburg in April last year, completing a photo-shoot for South African documentary photographer, Blake Woodhams. Coincidentally, Johannesburg was hosting Mr. Gay World 2012 that very evening. “We watched the pageant, grabbed a few drinks and made a joke about how we should forward my photographs to MGW for 2013’s registrations.” And then that’s what he did. A few weeks later Nolan received a registration form and a questionnaire in his inbox. “Since India does not have a local sponsor, MGW had their director in the Philippines, Ms. Noemi Alberto, conducted my auditions via Skype. A few video-conferences later, I was chosen as Mr. Gay India 2013 over six other Indian guys.” 

The fact that India does not have a MGW representative is proving to be quite a challenge for Nolan to participate in the pageant. “I don’t have anyone sponsoring my airfare or wardrobe. That’s the basic entitlement of any contestant representing a country at an international level.” Nolan is currently on the lookout to find some corporate endorsements and a fashion designer volunteering to showcase his or her work at MGW 2013. 

Photography by: Blake Woodhams

Nolan hopes to change this situation for the future MGW Indian contestants. “I will have a chat with MGW about hiring me as the recruiting agent for the next delegate from India, since there’s no one as of now.” So would he be kicking off a Mr. Gay India pageant from next year onwards? “I can only comment about the possibility of a full blown pageant, once I’m back from MGW. But you are going to have someone representing India each year from now for sure!” 

All the best Nolan for MGW and also for the initiative that you are planning to bring for the future MGW aspirers! 

You can reach Nolan and support him by clicking here. 

Photography by: Blake Woodhams

Come to think of it, a Mr. Gay India pageant is not a bad idea after all. India has seen a remarkable progress ever since the Delhi High Court decriminalized homosexuality in 2009. The post 377 era has afforded a favourable pitch for a host of LGBT entities - from a gay travel boutique, a gay event management firm, a fashion store to a queer book store, an LGBT discount card and an annual international LGBT film festival; India has seen it all! A gay pageant would be a perfect piece for this melange aiding ourselves to be visible more conspicuously.

Check out these related posts too!
CSB Xclusive! Rajeev Govinda Pillai
CSB Xclusive! Sahil Anand Arora
CSB Xclusive! An Interview With Ronald N. Tan

This post is not over yet! Click here to continue reading.

Click here to shrink this post.