I read your comment several times. Correct me if I’m wrong. But it seems that you do not feel represented enough within the community, or rather not represented enough to be an open member of it. But please understand that the only person who can truly represent you is you- yourself. So, if you feel under-represented instead of fretting about it, or blaming the influence of “western culture” why don’t you come out there and represent yourself and your beliefs?

Sunny,

I understand your point. Ideally, there shouldn’t be a need for gay pride parades in the first place, but prejudices do exist- both outside and within our community. Active members and community leaders have the responsibility of making sure all feel included. For instance, are our groups/communities in the big cities inclusive enough for LGBTs from the economically under-privileged classes? There are many hard questions like these that we have to answer.

On the question of prides, i think more than anything else, prides serve a political purpose. It gives visibility to those who’ve for ages been in the margins. Its existence overlooked and dismissed as “hijra”. It brings it to the drawing rooms of people and among certain people it makes them discuss it. You may be uncomfortable with the colourful display and may or may not conform to some or many of the stereotypes depicted there. But you can’t deny that they all form part of the community and deserve as much respect and acceptance as you would seek. Comfort and others such is a matter of personal choice. Besides one can’t deny that visibility also, directly or indirectly, lead to larger political leverage. One must not forget that progress in the western liberal democracies have come after massive struggle similar to those we’re witnessing in India today.