‘We observe silence to express our gratitude to all the people – all over the world – who have lost their lives while fighting for equal rights,’ Saurabh Bondre, one of the organisers of Mumbai Queer Pride, tells Metro.
The Pride march is perfectly silent as the beautiful chaos of India erupts around us – the beeps of speeding tuk tuks, the calls of street vendors selling pav bhaji and panipuri, the playful barks of street dogs weaving between the crowds.
In an exclusive Metro series, Calum will journey from the subzero climes of Antarctica to the jewel-toned streets of Mumbai, telling the story of Pride around the world.
As one of the only countries in the world to reverse decriminalisation, India’s queer communities stand as a warning to others that LGBT+ rights are never guaranteed.
This year, I’m on a journey to visit Pride events across the world, and after skiing a rainbow flag down the icy slopes of Whistler, I hopped on a flight to defrost in the fiery heat of the ‘City of Dreams’.
