The eighth edition of the Awadh Queer Pride is scheduled to take place in Lucknow on Sunday. Preliminary preparations are underway for the annual parade, which takes place in February each year. For the time being, it is planned to begin at Saharaganj Mall and end at Begum Hazrat Mahal Park after passing through Hazratganj. The previous year, we attempted the same route but were unable to obtain permission; as a result, we began at Rana Pratap Marg and proceeded to 1090 Crossing. Yaduvendra Singh Darvesh, the pride’s founder and member, says that choice is still a backup this time around.
Amruta Soni, a trans activist and technical expert with the UP Aids Control Society Technical Society, is taking part for the third year running. “The closet population finds inspiration in occasions like the Pride parade to meet people and live fearlessly. The right to life is guaranteed to all people by our constitution, which is a beautiful document. There is no gender discrimination in it. Additionally, it makes commoners more aware,” she claims.
Last Sunday saw around 50 people participating in the poster-making event held at Lohia Park where paintings, slogans and messages were creatively drawn.
“A day earlier, a gender and mobility meet for trans people was organised by Climate Agenda organisation at a member’s house in Gomti Nagar. Chitrashi, whose gender expression is masculine narrated how auto drivers and fellow commuters were forcing her to share the seat with the driver, saying ‘tum ladke jaise dikhati ho’. Transwoman Niyanti shared how she was almost molested in a bus,” says Anmol, a member.
A transgender registration camp was held at activist Guru Guddan’s Dera in Dali-ganj. “Besides, corporate professional Pramesh Sahani, from Mumbai, gave a talk on inclusion of queer community in the mainstream,” the member adds.
This time, they are expecting 1,000 people. “People from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and a lot of cities from Uttar Pradesh, are coming for the Pride parade. Besides, the queer community members, we have a large number of allies who are our pillar of strength,” adds Darvesh.
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