Proud to Have Pride As My First Assignment, Look Who I Met

My First Time At Pride and the People Who Made it Unforgettable

‘Closeted’ No More: Delhi Struts With Pride Post Section 377

(Photo: Shiv Kumar Maurya/ The Quint)

Happy faces and rainbow flags: that’s who all I met on my first assignment at the Delhi Queer Pride 2018.

The 11th edition of Delhi’s Pride March — the first since Section 377 was struck down — was different from the earlier pride marches. Why? Because its participants from the LGBTQI+ community were not criminals anymore.

Humans of Delhi Queer Pride Parade 2018

Delhi turned up in large numbers post the striking down of the archaic Section 377.(Photo: The Quint/ Shiv Kumar Maurya)

I am 23. And I always wanted to attend the Pride Parade, but never got to. However my first time at the pride also happened to be my first reporting assignment. So brace yourselves, as I present to you my personal essay, oops, report of the Delhi Pride parade!

As I met different people at the pride, they opened up to me about how the Supreme Court’s decision of striking down Section 377 had played a ‘supreme’ role in increasing the turnout for the pride this year.

Supreme Court, thank you sir!(Photo: Priyanka Bansal/ The Quint)

There were some usual, some unusual sights at the parade. Or maybe it was because everything was seeming fascinating to me — this being my first pride parade and all!

But what fascinated me the most was the sheer diversity I got to witness at the pride. All in all, the pride was hella inclusive and I loved every minute of it.

This gentleman named Vimal Bhai has been connected with the LGBT movement probably since before I was born, or even conceived maybe! His dance moves to the dhol could put any twenty-something to shame, and that’s what caught my attention and got me to get my first ‘byte’ from him.

Vimal Bhai dancing to the dhol beats.(Photo: Priyanka Bansal/ The Quint)

And then there was this little gentleman supporting his chachu. Or rather chachus!

In full support of his chachu. (Photo: Priyanka Bansal/ The Quint)

Although the happiness and positivity could be seen on everyone’s faces at the parade, for me this little encounter was especially delightful and warmed my heart on an otherwise cold and dreary day.

This little boy was quite fascinated with all the colors around.(Photo: Priyanka Bansal/ The Quint)

I am not sure if the little boy in the above picture knew that he was part of a ‘pride parade’, but he sure did seem fascinated by all the rainbow colours, and especially by this gentleman who was carrying a butterfly cape with the utmost pizzazz.

And then there was this little guy who was accompanied by his two dads and little sister. Some people later told me that that they had noticed more families at the pride parade this time round as it happened post the Section 377 verdict.

More families were spotted at the pride, post the Section 377 verdict.(Photo: Priyanka Bansal/ The Quint)

Another aspect that I was quite smitten by was the boundless energy of the pride regulars and their amazing costumes.

Basking in the glory, love is legal now!(Photo: Priyanka Bansal/ The Quint)

Adding to the energy and enthusiasm were the pride regulars. (Photo: Priyanka Bansal/ The Quint)

This mother-daughter duo was also spotted at the pride.(Photo: Priyanka Bansal/ The Quint)

The Statements at The Pride

Just as I had seen in the newspapers in the previous years, I got to witness first hand how people were trying to bring about a lot of intersectionality at the pride parade in the posters they were carrying and slogans they were raising.

Ah, a zabardast Pride tradition, ain’t it?

But this Pride the ‘Smash Brahminical Patriarchy’ poster seemed to have overtaken all else. A little bit of controversy always helps, doesn’t it?

‘Smash Brahminical patriarchy’ probably had more posters and banners than any other poster this time round(Photo: Priyanka Bansal/ The Quint)

There was a lot of chatter at the Parade on the topic of ‘ Brahminical Patriarchy’(Photo: The Quint/ Shiv Kumar Maurya)

And the staple of every Pride — the quirky banners that make political statements with lots of chutzpah remained a hit this time too! (Photo: The Quint/ Shiv Kumar Maurya)

And the staple of every pride — the quirky banners that make political statements with lots of chutzpah remained a hit this time too!

Battling an intense FOMO at the Pride at not having carried any posters of my own, I vowed to carry my own banners at the next Pride I attend. Hopefully, with little reporting to do!