Being able to celebrate love without any fear is perhaps the best way to spend Valentine’s Day. That’s exactly what members of the LGBTQ+ community did this year when they were invited to be themselves at Dock Forty Five club in the city.
This year’s Valentine’s Day was the first one after section 377 was de-criminalised, which made it all the more significant. One could sense the energy and joy at the club as everyone danced away merrily. There was a picture booth, free glittering pink masks and lighting on the dance floor which looked nothing less than heavenly. Rainbow coloured shots were the highlight of the party.
“I absolutely loved the party yesterday. It’s been a year since I’ve been in Hyderabad, and this was one of the most rocking parties I have ever been too. While there are a few people in the city who previously organised gay parties, I wasn’t really comfortable. The music was a bummer and the drinks were over-priced. But yesterday’s party was lit! The music was on point, we couldn’t stop dancing and drinking and feeling like ourselves,” says party goer Vishal Baranwal, a designer.
Zack, head at the pub Dock Forty Five says, “We wanted to take the initiative to host the first LGBTQ+ pride party in Hyderabad, and were very glad to see the city supporting a movement like this in such large numbers! Everyone present for the event showed respect to one another and collectively made it happen. Not just on the show day, but days before, the Hyderabad crowd started supporting the event and spreading the word in a positive manner.”
