When a group of students from Manipal took the rainbow flag out on a stroll through the streets in the first ever Ally March held in the town, it left large sections of the student community and local population bemused. While India has played host to around 20 pride parades since the practice began in 2008, this was the first ever Ally March, according to LGBTQ+ activist Romal Laisram.
But what really is an ally march and how is it different from a Pride parade?
• pride•
a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of one’s close associates
LGBT Pride or gay pride (often confused with ‘pride parade’) is the pillar that supports LGBT+ movements. On the surface, it seems like the notion of being proud of a sexual orientation or gender identity. However, it is much more than that. It is taking a positive stance and disallowing anyone to shame, ridicule or discriminate a person based on their orientation. It is to uphold solidarity, empower oneself and display immense strength.
The LGBT community is more often than not, subject to harassment for being, well, themselves. (Alarming statistics show that a staggering 28% of people who identify as LGBTQ+ drop out of schools due to bullying) This mistreatment can come from their families, peer groups, work environment, or even, online bullies.
So, we take a stand. As we all know, love trumps hate and it is the way to combat hate and homophobia. It is about not letting anyone decide what you’re worth because of a sexual/gender orientation.
How is it different from a Pride Parade?
•pride parade•
Events celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) culture and pride that might serve as demonstrations for legal rights such as same-sex marriage
A pride parade or a gay pride parade is a display of solidarity of the community and a celebration of different sexualities and gender identities. The history of Pride is rooted in politics and protests. On June 28, 1969, members of the LGBT community protested against a police raid on Stonewall Inn, a gay club in New York City, marking the first ever pride parade.
Parades often have floats, posters, dancers and peppy music creating an air of pomp and festivity. Religious institutions, like the Westboro Baptist Church, are notorious for propagating the homophobic sentiment. However, certain pro-LGBT+ institutions, such as the United Church of Christ, have also participated in these marches.
In India, the first Pride Parades happened on June, 2008 across the cities of Mumbai, Pondicherry, Kolkata and Bangalore. Participation in marches has increased in recent times as form of protest, especially due to the archaic and regressive Section 377 that criminalises unnatural sex.