Let’s Do Away With Homophobia: Walk Through An Ally's Eye At Pune Pride 2023

For the past two years, I have been attending Pune Pride. Every time, I attended as a reporter to cover the walk. This time it was as an ally. Last year, my two friends spoke their hearts out, they revealed how they felt about themselves. Since then pride felt more personal to me. Sometimes you know about your friends but decide to stay quiet and let them grow. I chose the same and waited for my friends to disclose it. The day he did, it was magical, emotional, and with a lot of relief. I felt I am truly an ally, and happened to create a safe place for my friend to be who he is. My friend Mayur identifies himself as gay.

Pride felt different this time, Mayur hosted the walk, and actively participated in organising the 11th edition of Pune Pride. While seeing him energetically raising the slogan- I am Gay, That’s OK, it came all back to me. It was his birthday when he first revealed his sexual orientation. We hugged each other and cried for a moment. Nothing made me more proud than seeing him progress drastically over the year. 

Mayur comes from a small village in Maharashtra, where acceptance for the LGBTQA+ community is still aloof. He came to Pune with big dreams of becoming a writer. Currently, he works with one of the biggest Marathi publications. Slowly and steadily facing all his struggles, he is nourishing his dreams. He is yet closeted, not out in front of his family, waiting for the day to find a partner and introduce him to his family. For Mayur, the pride walk is a symbol of freedom to express. According to him, Pride gives the power to feel important, care less about what people think, and know the world has similar people. It validates you and feels proud to be part of the community. 

Pride marches started as a series of spontaneous demonstrations by the LGBTQA+ community in response to police raids at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, in June 1969. Today, it has become a catalyst for the modern fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Prides are addressing issues regarding employment, awareness around acceptance, shedding light on marriage equality, and more. 

Credit: Snehal Mutha

Pune Pride 2023

Coming back to Pune Pride, it was humongous, stretched at least a Kilometer long, and the participants enthusiastically walked with rainbow flags and placards. People were dolled up in rainbow colours. He, she, they, them- all were making statements through their dressing. Laughing, smiling, hugging, dancing, screaming- it was a festival of freedom. The slogans like Lakshat theva he pakka, amhala hi nokri cha hakka(We have right to employment), Naka karu duje pana, tritiyapanthiyanna aple mhana (Don't discrimante, transgender are also human), and prem mhane prem asta, tumcha amcha same asta(Love Is Love) were echoing on the streets. The bystanders were looking at the rally, taking videos. It gave me goosebumps then and gives me now too. 

For me, walking as an ally, and raising slogans felt awkward, never participated before, and this one was for my friend to show my support in the open. While doing so met other colourful people. I spoke to a girl who prefers to go by the name Nannu. Interesting person! A medical student wearing a short summer dress with a tiara embracing her head, and cheeks wearing dimples every time she smiled. She has been a Lesbian all her life. Aunt outed Nannu in front of her parents at the age of 15. I know right, a lot for a 21-year-old to face repercussions. She was grounded, asked to change her attitude, and more. The irony is her parents are well-educated doctors, yet do not have acceptance. She wants to be a doctor to treat all her patients with dignity. Being a doctor is the only way out to deal with her parents as they too want her to be a doctor. Nannu's story is woke like any Gen Z, but tragic as her parents have total control over her mobility. She is tracked all the time. Nannu is afraid one day, she will be married off to a man, and no law will come to the rescue. Participating in the walk is an effort for her to feel little accepted by

Credit: Snehal Mutha

society. 

Like Nannu, over 1200 people participated, perhaps the highest number the Pune Pride ever witnessed in a decade. People from small towns of Maharashtra- Satara, Ahmednagar, Nashik, and Aurangabad participated in the walk. The Pride March drew participants from all walks of life. Every year the number of participants is increasing, its a sign of acceptance. 

Surprisingly, In the first, the Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra, Shrikant Deshpande walked with the trans-flag, beside a transwoman, throughout the rally. This is a mark of progress and growing acceptance by the system. That transwoman was Vijaya Vasave. Vijaya had her own set of struggles in the journey of becoming who she is. Vijaya comes from the tribal community of Nandurbar, the rural hilly district of Maharashtra. Vijaya faced intersectionality at different levels. It wasn't easy for her to find answers about her own existence, to survive in the boys' tribal hostel, and cope-up with the abuse exerted on her. She came way ahead from multiple suicide attempts to becoming an LGBTQA+ activist. 

Pune Pride had myriads of stories to tell. The story of struggles, pain, fear, vulnerability, and success. This year the theme was ‘Queers Call Employment for All’, focusing on LGBTQA+ diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Employment is the only lifeline for the people from the community when their families abandoned them when they run away to end the abuse. However, many fail to get a decent job owing to discrimination, stigma, and taboo associated with their sexual orientation. Transgenders are forced to beg or do sex work, as people avoid hiring them. Gays are harassed over their appearances at the workplace. Pune Pride has set the tone of what the community wants and that it's not all about sex and parties that heterosexual people assume. 

Pune pride ended with the crowd collectively singing - ‘Hum Honge Kaamiyaab' (We Will be Successful). It felt surreal, one day, we will have all rights in place, and no pride walk will be needed to raise awareness or protest for equality. Mayur will be out to his family and enjoying with his partner, Nannu treating her patients with dignity and being married to the girl of her dreams, and Vijaya working on other projects in NGO, and not just transgender-related issues. And all the other stories of the Pride have a happy end. Maybe that will be a successful day!  

Credit: Snehal Mutha

Suggested Reading: US Student Failed By Professor For Using Term 'Biological Women'