It was a joyous moment for the hundreds of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community members when they held the fifth Kerala queer parade pride march in Kochi to assert their rights.
The march was organised by the Queer Pride Keralam Group, which includes Queerala (a support group for the LGBT community, their friends and family) and Sahayathrika (a Human Rights Organisation for Lesbian and Bisexual women in Kerala) and others from the previous pride marches.
A protester who took part in the pride said, "The march is for our self-pride. We want to show the world that we are proud of what we are. We want to protect the sexual minority. Family is the first hurdle. The try to convert to you thinking it is sin to be gay."
A woman present at the protest also said, "I am from USA and I am here to support LGBT community. It is my first time here. It is the same struggle everywhere."
Kochi is holding the parade for the first time, as most of the times it used to take place in Thrissur District, but the venue was selected with the request of the members.
The parade was flagged off from High Court Junction and concluded at the Rajendra Maidan.
The parade was followed by a public meeting to deliberate on harassment and persecution of LGBT people by different institutions including law enforcement agencies.