LGBT community to organize parade in city

VADODARA: The first week of December will witness the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community in the city coming together for a two-day 'Gujarat LGBT Pride Festival' for raising awareness and celebrating the rights of the LGBT community. The festival will be hosted by Gujarat LGBT Pride Festival Foundation in association with Rangrez and Foram Foundation.
The event will have participants from various cities including Surat, Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Mumbai.Apart from 'Pride March' which is a highlight of the festival, it will also have various events including film screenings, skits as well as dance and musical performances. The festival will be flagged off with a flash mob by the participants.
"This is the second year of the festival in the city. The first festival was held in 2013 with the participation of over 150 individuals in the 'Pride March'. However this year we have a lot of activities planned," said Jimmy Solanki, a member of the organizing team.
"We have collaborated with Kashish - the only mainstream queer film festival group in the country for hosting a four hour long screening wherein films made on the LGBT community and their everyday struggles will be showcased," added Solanki.
"We want more people to come out and celebrate their identity. This festival will provide a platform for the LGBT community come out and voice their concerns along with taking pride in their being," said Ankur Patil from Foram Foundation.
"In our 'Pride March' last year, we had received support through the participation of senior citizens who came out in support of the need for LGBT acceptance in the society that overwhelmed us. We are hoping that this march will transform into a platform that will help the LGBT individuals to come out and accept their identities," said Vidhi Mehta, an organising team member.
The festival which will also include musical fest titled 'Raabta' is expected to draw a participation of 500 that will include organizations, persons from the LGBT community and supporters.