Bhopal Pride March

The Bhopal Pride March was an event held in 2017 to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) culture in Bhopal, India.

The march occurred on May 17, 2017.[1] Events included panel discussions, music events, street plays and an art exhibition.[1] The march in 2017 was the first pride march in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, and was held on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.[2] The parade began at the Van Vihar gate and ended at the Hotel Lakeview Ranjit.

Kokila Bhattacharya, a member of the organising committee said, ‘We will not be debating or protesting peoples' beliefs, we will only talk about fundamental human rights and a life for the LGBTQ community of dignity and social acceptance.”It came about when some students in the college where the awareness sessions were held asked why there weren’t any pride marches in Bhopal.The event was funded by people through crowd funding and didnt rely on sponsors for the same.[3]

Participation

Approximately four hundred LGBTQ community members and allies from across India participated,[1] with marchers demanding that the Madhya Pradesh government set up a transgender/sexual minorities welfare board in Bhopal.[1] The event attracted NGOs and voluntary organisations as participants including the Citizen's Action Network, Mitra Shringaar Samiti, Anmil Seva Sansthan and the Center for Social Justice.[2] Sanjana Singh Rajput, Balram Raikwar and Devi Singh were some of the activists present.[2] Besides these renowned activists, many members of the LGBTQ community participated to show their identity.

Before the event, Sanjana Singh Rajput stated, "The parade will mark a way to aware [sic] people about us and it will be aimed [sic] to make people understand that we are also human beings who deserve to be accepted in society and get education, health facilities, and employment opportunities like everyone else."[2]

People came dressed in traditional clothes to depict that the presence of the community in India and is not the result of western influence. Sumit Pawar from Mumbai, who was dressed like ‘Kamdev’, said, “Our mythological books and architecture prove that LGBTQIA community existed in the ancient India too. In Khajuraho, architects freely made sculptures of lesbian and gay but now people feel awkward in discussing such issues.”[4]

Queer Mitra

The Queer Mitra (an odd friend) is a group of people working in creating a healthy and safe environment for LGBT+ community in bhopal.

This group is the result of Bhopal Pride March and It is totally inspired by this Pride March, held to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) culture in Bhopal, India. After that march, many people belonging to LGBT+ community, came together. And In this way QueerMitra came in existence. On sept 16, 2018 first meeting of QueerMitra held at Chatar Patar & Chaiwala tefe, Bhopal. First time after the pride march people come together with a hope that they can make a change.

As many of the members of QueerMitra are hidden lesbian, gay and bisexuals from society. So QueerMitra uses Socia media to connect and join members and keep them hidden.

Shivam, a member of QueerMitra said, 'Our aim is to create a healthy environment for LGBT+ community, so that no person have to hide his identity from society, as still in India people are not much openminded, still they hessitate to have a normal conversation with a person belonging to LGBT+. Our aim is to change their mindset and we want to be treated as normal as others.'

QueerMitra organize many events in city to spread the message of love and inclusivity.

On Oct 2, 2018 QueerMitra inaugurated a Wall of Pictures dedicated to LGBT+ pride. The Wall is inaugurated by Onir (an Indian film and TV director, editor, screenwriter and producer) and Devi Rani (President of Devi Rani Kinnar samiti, Bhopal).

The aim of Bhopal Pride March, to make Bhopal LGBT friendly, had become the target of QueerMitra. All LGBT+ people, open minded youths and many celebrities had supported and appreciated the work of this QueerMitra community. Onir, Indian filmmaker, on wall inauguration day said, 'i am very happy that india is moving toward a healthy change, i appreciate the QueerMitra. Every member of LGBT community also deserves to be treated as normal as everyone. There is a need of similar communities like queermitra in every city to bring a change.'

One hidden member of QueerMitra shared his views with TOI, 'QueerMitra organizes many events at Chatar Patar & Chaiwala tefe in which we participate in events and discuss about our future plans and we enjoy a lot. Here we feel real, we dont have to hide anything, we feel proud on what we are. And we feel so happy, no fear of anything and QueerMitra is like our family where we have so much fun and feel real.'

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "LGBTQ community parade with pride in first for Bhopal, demand welfare board for Transgender/Sexual Minorities". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Bhopal: Maydha Pradesh's first LGBT Pride Parade in city on May 17 | Free Press Journal". www.freepressjournal.in. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
  3. ↑ Smith, R. J.; Bryant, R. G. (1975-10-27). "Metal substitutions incarbonic anhydrase: a halide ion probe study". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 66 (4): 1281–1286. ISSN 0006-291X. PMID 3.
  4. ↑ Bose, K. S.; Sarma, R. H. (1975-10-27). "Delineation of the intimate details of the backbone conformation of pyridine nucleotide coenzymes in aqueous solution". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 66 (4): 1173–1179. ISSN 1090-2104. PMID 2.


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