Hundreds Of Marchers At Dehli Queer Pride Demand "A Life Without Fear"
On Sunday, members of the LGBT community and their allies marched in the Delhi Queer Pride Parade, challenging the Indian government to repeal the criminalization of homosexuality.
The demonstration, which went from Barakhamba Road to Jantar Mantar only drew several hundred participants, a small number for a city of 25 million.
But while there is more understanding and acceptance of LGBT people in India today, there is still a strong social taboo against homosexuality. Marrying—and having children—is at the core of society, and many gays remain closeted.
A number of attendees at Sunday's demonstration wore masks or otherwise obscured their faces.
While a majority of Indians believe homosexuality should be decriminalized, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government doesn't seem very interested in taking up the cause.
In 2009, a New Delhi high court ruled that the ban on gay sex was unconstitutional. But just four years later, that verdict was overturned and Section 377 was restored.
The law, a holdover from British rule that punishes homosexuality by up to 10 years in prison, will have to be overturned in Parliament.
In addition to the repeal of Section 377, organizers called for strong action against anti-minority violence, the end to protections for marital rape, and the institution of anti-discrimination laws.
They also condemned the death of Tara, a trans outreach worker who died after being burned alive outside the Pondy Bazar police station in Chennai.
A transgender rights bill passed the Upper House in 2015, but has stalled since then.