Monish is one the key members of the Delhi Queer Pride Committee, and he talked to Pink Pages about the recently concluded Gay Pride celebrations in Delhi, that not only saw a massive turnout, but also attracted a lot of media attention.
Participants at the Delhi Pride Parade (Picture: Anahita Sarabhai)
How was the parade this year different from the one last year?
Lots of other minority groups turned out for support. For instance, women’s rights activists. There was significant celebrity presence. Also many participants came along with their parents and straight friends who support them.
There were fears that the parade could be sabotaged by some right wing groups. Were you nervous?
There were no threats as such. Whenever you take a new initiatives, you have to be cautious. But we were definitely not nervous.
What was the exact turnout?
More than three thousand.
That’s a huge number. Were you expecting that?
We definitely were. Infact had it not been for the sweltering heat, more would’ve come. By the time the parade ended, everybody was drenched in sweat.
What was the response of on-lookers?
Mixed, but mostly positive. The media was very supportive. As I was walking with the marchers, I heard one onlooker say it’s fine as long as they don’t harm us. But there was also another lady who said “We should keep an eye on these parades, even our children might be one of them!”
The parade generated a lot of media attention. Do you think most of it was positive?
Totally positive. Both the print and electronic media gave us significant coverage and media reports were all very sympathetic to our cause.
But don’t you think much of the coverage was only by the English media?
I wouldn’t say so. I’ve seen reports in Hindi newspapers too about the parades. Though they took time to catch up with it, they eventually did. Their coverage may not be as positive, but the Hindi media is certainly not ignoring us any more.
Finally, what is your reaction to the historic Delhi High Court judgement declaring homoesexuality legal?
It’s a historic day, a victory for humanity I’d say. It’s a great step forward in the road to ensuring human rights to all. However this is just the beginning of a long struggle. Our next step would be to try and legalize adoptions by same sex couples, anti-discrimination laws and domestic partnerships for gays.
Who is Monish by the way. A fellow who organizes gay party? You should be intervewing some and known people and activisit like Aditya, Leslie, Gautam , Mayur, Betu etc. And dicriminalization is what voices and naz have asked for along with support from naco. Gay and lesbian marriages are far fetched and so does adoption law. Also women rights groups are not minority Mr.Monish. It is double standard of men to call us women as minority, what a shame. The event was similar to last year except that fewer people wore mask this time and as last year parents and straight friends walked alongside.
would like to know who shared the attendance figures as 3000 for the delhi parade?
i want to meet Mohnish in person