Manchester Pride Parade: A Significant Inclusion

A significant number of South Asian LGBT+ community have been noticed participating this year in the Manchestar Pride Parade which was held on 24 August to 27 August, 2018 in Manchester, the second Gay city after London in the United Kingdom. Every year thousands of people from LGBT community flocks together in this pride parade. Manchester Pride is one of the very few inclusive events in the world which campaigns for the advancement of LGBT+ equality; celebrate LGBT+ life and create opportunities that engage LGBT+ people so that they can thrive. Starting since it has been continuing its epoch making contribution creating a unified platform where LGBT+ community can proudly express their sexual orientation. This year the event started with seeing the city centre awash with rainbow-colored flags and thousands of marchers showing their support for the LGBT+ community. It also consisted of several events, including the extravagant parade, The Big Weekend music festival and a special candlelit vigil to honor the members of the community who have lost their lives. One of the highlights of the festival was undoubtedly The Big Weekend, where stars including Rita Ora,Alexandra Burke and Sigala performed for the adoring crowds.

The parade, obviously main attraction of the event; held on 25 August attended by thousands of people not only from LGBT+ community but also others  from whole world making the parade one of the most inclusive events in the world obviously main attraction of the event. Participation from all race, color and religion literally shapes the parade a rainbow looking. A notable change of significant participation from LGBT+ community from South Asian ethnicity has been noticed this year in the parade. Meanwhile, it is always thought that due to the religion, social, cultural and political reason it is highly unlikely that LGBT+ community from that part of the world express their sexual orientation.

Akash a participant of the parade from Bangladesh said “it is a pleasure to participate in this parade as this is the platform where I can proudly shout that I am a member of LGBT+ community.”  His partner Shuvo said “This is the gathering where my heart would always like to go on; I feel all the participants here are my family member. I wish we could arrange such a pride parade in our country. But we are so unlucky and ignorant that we are yet to welcome different opinion”. Another participant of the parade and LGBT rights activist, Al Mamun Ahmad said “I am very happy and feeling really lucky that I am safe here and I had this opportunity to attend this parade. Being a Bangladeshi citizen myself, I know how gruesome it is for all members of our LGBT community back home. We are all human beings, absolutely normal as others, but most people in Bangladesh is ignorant and they are inclined to harm members of LGBT community for the sake of their barbaric religion Islam. But I hope one day they will have awareness about the true fact of LGBT instead of believing beastliness of their Islam and be a little humane towards us, this is my only wish.” LGBT rights activist from Indonesia, Rina Mei told us “It feels really nice to be here with all. It’s making me feel special. There are no one to judge here, all are friends. Everyone understands and respects each others’ feelings. I am really enjoying.”

Meanwhile, LGBT+ community  have to lead a discreet sexual and social   life in the South Asian Region where Islamists or even the majority of the society  are committed to persecute them for going against the natural law .However things are changing slowly though not significantly. Indian Supreme Court has recently struck down a colonial-era law criminalizing consensual gay sex, overturning more than 150 years of anti-LGBT Legislation.In September 2018 a historic rule was set by the Indian Supreme Court by repealing Section 377, an archaic law imposed during British rule that penalized intercourse “against the order of nature,” had carried a maximum sentence of Life imprisonment.