Participants get ready for the 12th Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk 2013 on Sunday afternoon. A couple of hundred members of the LGBT community from the city, the state and even neighbouring states like Odisha gathered at the Hazra crossing along with their friends and family members to lend their voice to the movement against violence on women and sexual minorities. The walk ended at the Academy of Fine Arts.

Apart from addressing issues of violence against women and sexual minorities, the walk also renewed the demands for decriminalisation, equal rights and freedom from persecution and harassment based on gender or sexuality in anticipation of the Supreme Court verdict in relation to Delhi High Court ruling about the unconstitutionality of Section 377 in July 2009. “This year we want to show our solidarity with the women’s movement against violence and salute the survivors. We are very glad about the growing participation of women and women’s organisations,” said Pawan Dhall of Saathi.

The atmosphere was carnivalesque with rainbow-coloured headgear, elaborate customs, live drums, masks, flags and colourful posters.

 

American Center director Jeffrey Reneau joined the walk along with the deputy director of American Center, Rachel Sunden. “The American Center is proud to march in Calcutta for LGBT rights. As secretary Kerry said, ‘Protecting universal human rights is at the very heart of our diplomacy, and we remain committed to advancing human rights for all, including LGBT individuals’,” said Reneau.

 

 

 

Text by Chandreyee Chatterjee Pictures by Amit Datta