LGBT pride flag flutters high over the cityscape

PUNE: The Supreme Court (SC) verdict on decriminalizing homosexuality has helped achieve victory in the battle, but lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights activists from Pune reiterated that the war is yet to be won.


Gay marriage rights, civil union rights, adoption rights, and, crucially, fighting the stigma are some of the next major milestones to be achieved, members of the community from the city said.

Chitra Palekar, noted actor-director and one of 19 parents, who had filed an intervention in the 2013 SC judgement for decriminalizing Section 377, said, “The SC order will help in battling the stigma and homophobia. It will also help more people open up about their sexuality. The next big step is to remove the stigma and prejudice attached with the LGBT community. The judges themselves have given such wonderful statements while pronouncing the judgment that I think it will help children who are opening up to their parents.”

Palekar’s daughter, who is a lesbian and lives abroad, also expressed her solidarity with the community back home. Palekar, a member of the Mumbai-based support group Sweekar — The Rainbow Parents, is certain that the struggles they have gone through will also help parents and other communities across the world get a positive judgment in their own cases.

On Thursday, an online collective of LGBT individuals from India MIST organized a small celebration in Koregaon Park. Founder of MIST Shyam Konnur said, “There are quite a few of us in Pune, although only some are active. We often struggle to get venues to hold our events but today I received many calls from several venues offering to host our event. It is a welcome change, of course. Many aspects, like marriage, partnership, inheritance laws, still need to be addressed but I believe we will get to them in time.”

Gender rights activist Shruti Sharda added that it is also important to acknowledge people from the LGBTQIA+ community and allies, who did not let the issue simmer down. “It is important, indeed ground-breaking, to read about the deliberation on individuality,

gender identity

, assignment of sex at birth, the shifting nature of morality, civil liberties, human rights, and so much more,” she added.

Speaking about Section 377 of the

Indian Penal Code

, police commissioner K Venkatesham said, “Henceforth, while registering FIRs, we will act according to the ruling of the Supreme Court. However, in cases involving children or minors, action will be initiated.”

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