DELHI—An estimated 2,000 people on Sunday attended an LGBT pride celebration in Delhi—marking the first pride event in India since homosexuality was decriminalized in the country last year.
India’s High Court in 2009 overturned a colonial-era law banning being gay. Organizers of the parade said that while previous pride events in the nation served primarily as protests of the now-defunct anti-gay law, this year’s festivities focused more on celebrating the strength in diversity and community.
“I do not know or care about how social acceptance has changed after the high court verdict,” said student participator, referring to the continued stigmatization of LGBT citizens in India’s still-conservative society. “But yes, I have changed,” she continued. “I feel more confident and I know that I am not doing anything wrong since the law of the land does not have a problem with it.”
Sunday’s pride celebration included drummers, dancing and rainbow flags, all intended to increase the visibility of LGBT people in India and help change attitudes to make the country a more accepting place.
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