Shillong: "I am gay, that's ok", "I am lesbian, that's ok". These slogans and many more rent the air after a monsoon shower threatened to dampen the spirit of the LGBTQ members and their wellwishers and supporters during their first pride walk here on Friday.
It was also the first pride walk after the Supreme Court judgment on Section 377.
But like the rainbow colours, which the LGBTQ ((lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) community proudly displayed signifying hope, the community members and supporters could finally step out of the muddy ground at Madan Iewrynghep near the Fire Brigade office towards the evening when the sun was beginning to journey into sunset and the rain gods were merciful.
However, not many LGBTQ members came out for the rally.
Even during the walk, there were passersby who behaved badly with the participants of the historic walk.
A person passing by in a vehicle was caught by the police after he allegedly displayed lewd gestures towards the participants. Another passerby, responding to the slogans by the participants of the rally, said, "It is not ok. This is Shillong."
However, these stray incidents did not hinder the LGBTQ members and their supporters from completing the journey from Madan Iewrynghep to Dhankheti and then towards Don Bosco Square before culminating at the point of origin.
Venkatesh, an LGBTQ activist, travelled all the way from Calcutta to lend support to the pride walk. Hailing the Supreme Court judgment, which decriminalised consensual gay sex last week, the activist said, "This is the first official pride walk after the Supreme Court verdict, and I am happy to be a part of it."
On homophobia, which the community faces, the activist said even in countries like the United States, homophobic tendencies are always there.
"You cannot expect the change to come in one or two days. It takes time for everyone."
Rebina Subba, an advocate and activist from Shamakami, an NGO, which organised the march along with Manbha Foundation, said, "We are very happy with the response we got. The Supreme Court judgement was a landmark as it speaks about an inclusive society. This is just the beginning."
Subba said there was still "fear" in the minds of many community members and that homophobia would always be there. There are around more than 300 community members under Shamakami.
Vishal, a community member, expressed hope that things would become better for the community from this day onwards. He appealed to parents to accept their children the way they are and to give them the freedom to live their lives. He reiterated his appeal to churches to accept them as human beings.
Sounding optimistic about the future of the LGBTQ community, Vishal was poetic when he said, "Like they say, there is always a rainbow after a downpour."
