The 11th edition of Pune Pride, the annual parade of the LGBTQI community, will be held on June 4, highlighting social justice and the need to change gender perspectives.
Pune Pride has firmly decided to keep politics away from the event with the participants being asked only to raise or carry slogans concerning the rights of the community.
YUTAK Charitable Trust is organising the event this year. “We do not want any dilution of our main objectives, i.e. the rights of the community. Hence there would not be any political colour or slogans or banners in our Pride. Political parties are welcome to join the Pride but only to show support to the cause,” said Anil Ukarande, YUTAK founder.
Bindumadhav Khire, director of the BQRF Trust and one among the early activists who spearheaded the LGBTQI movement in the country, started the Pune Pride parade 11 years ago. Over the years, the parade went on to become an important date in the Pune LGBTQI community’s calendar with people from Mumbai and other places making it a point to attend the event.
Khire’s BQRF Trust has taken up the role of mentor for the participants of the Pune Pride. Various corporates have openly come out in support of the community and their representatives have made their presence in the early editions of Pune Pride.
“As the ‘woke generation’ takes centerstage of the LGBTQI movement it is but natural that they should sit in the driver’s seat. Ukarande is the most experienced among the generation as he has experience in organising Pride marches in Pimpri Chinchwad. BQRF would be mentoring the walk both with technical support as well as financial support,” Khire said.
Pune Pride will also see the LGBTQI community honouring police officers, allies, parents and others who had supported the cause. The Pune Pride had raised eyebrows in the past when it deployed bouncers in view of security threats from some of the members of the community. Traditionally, the march starts and ends at the JM Road.
