Participants showed up in colourful attire at the third Queer Pride Parade in the city on Sunday

LUCKNOW: The road near GPO Park was as busy as the neighbouring Hazratganj is during any Sunday afternoon. Amid the loud honking of vehicles, even louder were the cheers of participants of the third Queer Pride Parade who turned heads with their spunk and colourful attire.

A few years back when homosexuality was still a crime in India, these very participants had been calling for freedom to live a life their own way with slogans like ' Humari azadi hum cheen ke lengey, hum jhoom ke lengey).

Two years and a Supreme Court verdict scrapping down the draconian Section 377 later, the Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender (LGBT) community marched down the stretch between Dainik Jagran Chauraha and GPO Park celebrating their new found freedom with slogans like ' humko mili hai azadi, azadi'. The parade was organised by the Awadh Queer Pride Committee. People dancing to the beats of dhols and catchy slogans caught passersby attention during the parade. From colourful scarves and headgears, to saris and trousers draped in the colours of a rainbow, which are usually associated with the queer community, the participants marched with an unparalleled pride. Anupama and her partner turned up at the parade dressed up as Radha and Krishna. Wearing a red-coloured lehenga, Anupam, said, "Radha-Krishna are an epitome of love and togetherness. My partner and I are here to celebrate the same. After being quiet for years, we finally feel free."

Flaunting a customisedcolourful shirt, Kanpur-resident Shivam said this was the second queer parade he was attending in Lucknow.

Talking about the apex court's verdict to decriminalise homosexuality earlier this year, Shivam, said, "It was an emotional moment for me and I couldn't hold back my tears. It is great to see how the city is slowly progressing and accepting us. My shirt indicates how happy and gay I am." Coming all the way from England to participate in the parade, Kate and her friend Prerna marched along with the participants waving their rainbow flags. "We couldn't attend any queer pride parade in England or Mumbai. When we heard that one was being organised in Lucknow, we flew all the way to be a part of it," said Prerna.

An LGBTQI rights activist from Delhi, Akshay Tyagi, said, "The community has gained freedom from Section 377, but we still need freedom from other hurdles like harassment. It's time that the queer community be freed from every fear it has been facing for years."

