Gay pride march in Bhopal: LGBTQ community seeks equality, wants end to persecution

Correspondent

NewsBits.in

BHOPAL: Hundreds of members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer (LGBTQ) community took out a march in Bhopal on Wednesday.

Seeking gender inquality and end to persecution of gays and homexuals, hundreds of activists from different cities of the country joined this parade.

Youths in large numbers attended the parade. Kokila Bhattacharya, the organiser, said that gays must get respect in the society. 

The organisers said that the aim is to ensure that gays should be treated as equals, with dignity in the society and that there should be no discrimination with them. 

"The government should form a board to look into the issues of the LGBTQ community. Also, the section 377 that decriminalises gay sex must go", said Venu Pillai, while talking to journalists. 

"The outlook of the society must change. Parents too should realise that they can't force their views on their kids and understand that their sexual preference may be different", further said.

It was in a way the first such major event in Bhopal, though an event on a small scale was held almost a decade ago. The march was conducted at Boat Club near the Upper Lake.