Delhi joins LGBT month

It might be a distant achievement, literally, but the designation of June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month in the United States by President Barack Obama has become a cause for celebration around the world.
And Delhi’s joining in! There are two events being held in the city to celebrate this cause. One is this evening at the American Centre, and the other is tomorrow at a cafe in Hauz Khas.
June’s the month for many gay pride parades held all over the world. It’s the month in which the 1969 Stonewall riots occurred, which were triggered by police action against homosexuals in New York City, US. However, June 2011 has turned out to be a month of positivity for the community all over the world. June is designated as LGBT Pride Month by the United States, Nepal’s first lesbian marriage was conducted openly in June, and the legalisation of same-sex marriages in the New York City have all come in quick succession.
In Delhi, the annual gay pride parade isn’t the only public event held for the LGBT community. As Mohnish Kabir Malhotra, gay rights activist, says, “There are other significant events that take place apart from the gay parade and the current Pride Week. For the last four years, the Nigah Queer Fest has been taking place in Delhi, and Delhi Frontrunners walks take place twice every month on Sundays.” Some gay pride festivals and events that take place are:
Annual Delhi pride parade
Started in 2008, this parade is a carnivalesque celebration as much as a statement. For the first two years, in 2008 and 2009, it was held on June 29, the day of the Stonewall riots, and it was a protest against IPC Section 377, which made homosexuality a criminal offense. But, in 2009, soon after the parade, the Delhi High Court passed a judgement decriminalising Section 377, which was hailed as a landmark judgment. In 2010, the parade was held on November 28, and it was more in celebration than protest. Each year, the number of participants in this mela full of song and dance, grows by leaps and bounds.
The Nigah Queer Fest
Four years old now, the fest describes itself as an “annual celebration of queerness.” The components include a queer film festical, performances, a visual arts exhibition, workshops and parties. It was held in November last year.
The Delhi Frontrunners
LGBTs walk or jog at meeting spots on the first and third Sunday of every month. Participants interact with each other, and bring friends. However, they are requested not to post the locations randomly online or make them public, since the effort is to provide a secure space for people to communicate.
Gay Delhi Sunday Socials
A weekly gathering for gay and bisexual men, it’s held in a south Delhi coffee shop, as “a conscious decision to be visible, to hold our gatherings in the day in a coffee shop. It was our way of pushing for a bit of public space,” according to a member who’s been quoted in reports.