QAM 2009

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On 2 July 2009 the Delhi High Court passed a landmark judgement. Sexual acts between consenting adults of the same sex had long been criminalised under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

Many people continue to hate and fear 'queers'. ‘Queer’ stands for all LGBTI people, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex, and for Hijra, Kothi, Panthi – all those who are not accepted by a society that recognises only two genders and considers only heterosexual relationships valid.

Besides, the Delhi High Court’s progressive judgement is being stridently opposed by religious fundamentalists of every hue, who proclaim that the queers lives and desires go against “Indian culture”, that they are “diseased”, and so on. Yet we have always been a part of society, and we have the same rights to equality and dignity that belong to every individual in this democracy.

The Queer wish to place our main demands before our government and our society:
* The 377 case will now be heard in the Supreme Court, hence our demand for this law to be read down continues.
* The Constitution must include provisions to deal with all discrimination on the grounds of sexuality or gender.
*Those amonst us who are transgendered are not recognised by society. Equal citizenship rights and opportunities should be extended to all who do not fit into either of the two categories of male and female.
* The medical establsihment must be made aware of the reality of our lives and our needs, and cease all insensitive and cruel attempts to ‘cure’ us.
* Every individual is under tremendous pressure to marry a person of the opposite sex, as marriage is seen as a must in our society. We are launching a campaign against all such forced marriages.
* We call for an end to homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. We want freedom from violence and hate within families, in educational institutions, at places of work and in public spaces. We especially demand that fundamentalist forces stop abusing us and poisoning people’s minds against us.

Chowpatty
Mumbai

Queer Azadi March is going on. People are wearing masks and walking with a huge banner on their head and shouting slogans.

Crowd shouts the slogan, 'We too want freedom !'

Eunuchs are dancing and are a part of the march. They are also donning masks and colourful clothes.

People are watching the protest

The protest is passing Sukh sagar.

Zoom in on a flag of Queer Azadi.

Overhead shot of the protest and the march.

Cut to people clicking pictures in the march.

People in the march are loudly shouting slogans.

A band is playing dhols and drums

Media covering the march

Slogan: 'We all are united !'
Slogan: 'All of us together are gays!'

Slogans are being shouted loudly and the protest moves ahead.

People dance in a tribal fashion.

The protestors shout slogans and march ahead.

Slogan: 'We all are united !'

Slogan: 'All we need is freedom !' 'Shout loudly: Freedom!' 'We all ask for freedom !' 'You too ask for freedom !' 'Freedom in the city of Bombay!' 'Freedom in the city of Delhi !' 'Queer asks for freedom !' 'Freedom in the whole country!'

The protestors shout slogans lead by a woman.

Zoom in on an overlooker in a building.

The march has reached chowpatty.

Police: Keep 4-5 posted here the cars are coming!

The protestors shout slogans lead by a woman.
Slogan: 'Shout loudly: Freedom!' 'We all ask for freedom !' 'You too ask for freedom !' 'Freedom in the city of Bombay!' 'Freedom in the city of Delhi !' 'Queer asks for freedom !' 'Freedom in the whole country!'

Eunuchs are dancing in a circle.

Pictures are being taken of the protestors.

Slogans: 'Queer asks for freedom !'

Slogans: 'Shout loudly: Freedom!' 'We all ask for freedom !' 'You too ask for freedom !' 'Freedom in the city of Bombay!' 'Freedom in the city of Delhi !' 'Queer asks for freedom !' 'Freedom in the whole country!'

'Please support me. Its my life I really know.. I want to.. Our life is completely covered so if you don't help us.. I just want that the way God has created us.. we have all the right to live.. can't we exist in the world? So please help us.. and we want the article 377 to be deleted and something else to be made for us. We want just this. Please.. okay?

Slogans: Our fight is on ! Our fight against religion is on !

Now I am going to sing so sing along with me.. the journey will end by accompanying like this.. the road will be in sight by going together like this.. (Twice). We walk on the path of love and our work is to walk on.. (Twice). In a moment all hardships will end.

The protestors sing a song.

We won't lose hope ! We will win ! (Twice). The journey will end by accompanying like this.. the road will be in sight by going together like this.. (Twice). The valleys say that the season will change. We don't care about happiness or sadness. We will fight with the storm and bear all hurt. The journey will end by accompanying like this. The road will be in sight by going together like this. We walk the path of love and our work is to walk on. In a moment all harships will end. We won't lose hope ! We will fight ! The journey will end by accompanying like this. The road will be in sight by going together like this. (Twice)

'Queer Azadi Zindabad !'

Jai ho !

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