Bangalore: Author and playwright Girish Karnad joined supporters of the LGBT movement, who gathered at Town Hall on Sunday afternoon. The group, which consisted of representatives from different organisations working with sexual minorities, like Sangama, led by Akkai Padmashali, also contained a fair number of heterosexuals, who came forward to help fight the stigma that still exists alongside homosexuality. The people bore signs which read "No going back" and "Love knows no gender', 'IPC 377 Quit India' and 'Marital rape equals legal but gay love equals crime.'
"This is just the beginning. We are not going to give up. This is a day of global outrage and we will not quit until every individual is given his rights," said Pushpa, a strong supporter of LGBT rights.
What was initially meant to be a silent protest, became witness to a massive outpour of outrage, with slogans like ‘Supreme Court down down’ and ‘Adhikara beku’. Some of the participants wore handcuffs, to signify that they are being treated like criminals. “Through these protests, we want to create awareness and build social acceptability,” Pushpa added.
"We are here today to tell the people, the courts, the government, and the whole world that we will not be beaten. We will not be forced into a life of shame and hiding, but will fight against this unjust verdict, for however long it takes, to take back the rights that were always ours.
We have come a long way in the last few years, in spite of setbacks like the recently passed draconian section 36A of the Karnataka Police Act, which subjects every aspect of the life of a Hijra to surveillance. Join us in this struggle! This is your struggle too, this is the struggle of everyone who wishes to see a more democratic and inclusive India," concluded RanÂjita, a transgender.
