Pictures: India’s first Pride march since gay sex was decriminalised
A participant in the first Indian pride parade since gay sex was decriminalised (Dominique Faget/AFP/Getty)
India has held its first Pride parade since the Supreme Court decriminalised gay sex in September—and it looked amazing.
A record number of attendees marched through the streets of Delhi on Sunday (November 25), according to SBS, with signs reading “Love Wins” and “Adios 377” to celebrate the striking down of Section 377, a 157-year-old colonial-era law which had been widely used to clamp down on the country’s LGBT+ community.
India Pride: This was the first Pride where queer Indians could celebrate the decriminalisation of gay sex (DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty)
Participants in the country’s capital territory chanted “We got our freedom!” as they rejoiced over September’s ruling, which saw Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra, state that “any consensual sexual relationship between two consenting adults—homosexuals, heterosexuals or lesbians—cannot be said to be unconstitutional.”
Deepti, who was one of the organisers of the historic Delhi Queer Pride 2018, said: “It’s the first time we are not marching as criminals.
“I’m enjoying my life as a free citizen now.”
— Deepanshu Goswami
India Gay Pride revellers delight in the freedom which the Supreme Court’s ruling brought (DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty)
“People are marching with freedom and zero burden,” she added.
Another participant, Deepanshu Goswami, said: “This parade is about happiness, happiness and happiness.”
People flew rainbow flags with freedom at the India Pride event (k_rex1/twitter)
Goswami warned that it would be a long road to get to full equality for the LGBT+ community in India, saying: “It will take one more generation for social acceptance but the fear factor is gone.
“I’m enjoying my life as a free citizen now,” Goswami added.
Rainbows were everywhere on Sunday as people celebrated gay India Pride (vibinjaureguii/twitter)
People take children along to celebrate freedom for India’s queer community
Children were also present at the Pride celebration in Delhi (priyankapranks/twitter)
Queer activists express happiness at gay India Pride
Members of India’s LGBT community were free to celebrate gay sex being made legal (DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty)
Police protect parade as law does after gay sex decision
Police look on as revellers celebrate (DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty)
Delhi Queer Pride 2018 attendees keen to record historic event with Pride photos
Participants took many photos of the first Indian Pride parade since the Supreme Court’s gay sex decision (DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty)
India Pride attendees enjoy new-found freedom after gay sex ruling
Delhi Queer Pride 2018 attendees were able to celebrate with less fear of reprisal after September’s gay sex ruling (babybluejin/twitter)
