<p>The ‘Pride March’, which was held on Sunday, concluded the three-week long ‘Karnataka Queer Habba and Bangalore Pride 2013’ in the City. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The march, which started from the Bangalore City Railway Station and ended at the Town Hall, was quite a vibrant celebration. <br /><br />Despite the rain, the spirits of the members were not dampened as they walked in rainbow coloured neta caps, with colourful umbrellas and attires and shouted out slogans in support of the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) community.<br /><br />While the drummers were crazily thumping away at the drums, the crowd, which consisted of almost 1300 members, were dancing away with all their might matching to the tempo of the drumbeats. <br /><br />People came out boldly dressed in different attire, varying from short and skimpy outfits to elaborate gowns and saris. <br /><br />The mood of the march was surely one of excitement and oneness.<br /><br />Justin, a supporter who came with his mother, was glad that the march had communicated what he and other fellow supporters had wished for the community. <br /><br />“This edition of the march saw supporters from Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad and queer campers from everywhere. Our hearts go out to our Russian counterparts who are being suppressed because of Putin’s law,” said Justin. People seemed vocal and confident at the march.<br /><br />Justin added, “There were not many masks used by people this year, which explains that people are fine going public.”<br /><br />The parade saw support from a section of foreigners too. Sarah Merkle, a student from Germany who is here for her thesis in transgender studies, said that she observed that the ‘Pride March’ has grown in numbers.<br /><br />“There seems to be more foreign interest in the march. But the people on the streets were staring at the participants in a shocked manner, so acceptance still needs to come.”<br /><br />For those of whom sexuality hasn’t been a challenge where they hail from, this was a bold step towards the future for Bangalore. <br /><br />This was the first parade for Jeffery Butts Jr, an expatriate from Virginia, USA, who’s been working in the City for the past two years.<br /><br />“For me, being gay hasn’t been a challenge back home. I’ve never had to deal with family notions. But to see people come out in the open, where such a cause is still seen as a taboo, is an awesome experience. This is the highlight of my life,” said Jeffery with a smile.<br /><br />He adds that he feels blessed to be among accepting people and feels glad that people’s mindsets are changing here.<br /><br />Most people came to proudly announce their support or announce their sexuality. But for Inder and Ashish, agay couple who met at the last ‘Pride March’, this was a bigger celebration. <br /><br />“We met here last year, and this is our first anniversary. I used to work in Bangalore earlier, but I moved to Mumbai after six months of meeting Inder. It’s such a blessing to see more friends and people here and it certainly makes us feel more special,” details Ashish, a software professional. <br />Inder, who’s a designer, wrapped up, “Even three years back, it was all considered a taboo. But people are more receptive now.”<br /></p>
<p>The ‘Pride March’, which was held on Sunday, concluded the three-week long ‘Karnataka Queer Habba and Bangalore Pride 2013’ in the City. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The march, which started from the Bangalore City Railway Station and ended at the Town Hall, was quite a vibrant celebration. <br /><br />Despite the rain, the spirits of the members were not dampened as they walked in rainbow coloured neta caps, with colourful umbrellas and attires and shouted out slogans in support of the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) community.<br /><br />While the drummers were crazily thumping away at the drums, the crowd, which consisted of almost 1300 members, were dancing away with all their might matching to the tempo of the drumbeats. <br /><br />People came out boldly dressed in different attire, varying from short and skimpy outfits to elaborate gowns and saris. <br /><br />The mood of the march was surely one of excitement and oneness.<br /><br />Justin, a supporter who came with his mother, was glad that the march had communicated what he and other fellow supporters had wished for the community. <br /><br />“This edition of the march saw supporters from Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad and queer campers from everywhere. Our hearts go out to our Russian counterparts who are being suppressed because of Putin’s law,” said Justin. People seemed vocal and confident at the march.<br /><br />Justin added, “There were not many masks used by people this year, which explains that people are fine going public.”<br /><br />The parade saw support from a section of foreigners too. Sarah Merkle, a student from Germany who is here for her thesis in transgender studies, said that she observed that the ‘Pride March’ has grown in numbers.<br /><br />“There seems to be more foreign interest in the march. But the people on the streets were staring at the participants in a shocked manner, so acceptance still needs to come.”<br /><br />For those of whom sexuality hasn’t been a challenge where they hail from, this was a bold step towards the future for Bangalore. <br /><br />This was the first parade for Jeffery Butts Jr, an expatriate from Virginia, USA, who’s been working in the City for the past two years.<br /><br />“For me, being gay hasn’t been a challenge back home. I’ve never had to deal with family notions. But to see people come out in the open, where such a cause is still seen as a taboo, is an awesome experience. This is the highlight of my life,” said Jeffery with a smile.<br /><br />He adds that he feels blessed to be among accepting people and feels glad that people’s mindsets are changing here.<br /><br />Most people came to proudly announce their support or announce their sexuality. But for Inder and Ashish, agay couple who met at the last ‘Pride March’, this was a bigger celebration. <br /><br />“We met here last year, and this is our first anniversary. I used to work in Bangalore earlier, but I moved to Mumbai after six months of meeting Inder. It’s such a blessing to see more friends and people here and it certainly makes us feel more special,” details Ashish, a software professional. <br />Inder, who’s a designer, wrapped up, “Even three years back, it was all considered a taboo. But people are more receptive now.”<br /></p>
