The Gay Pride March 2013, Mumbai

"Gay people are disgusting" Yes, you read it correct. They are! I hear they worship The Devil and do it among themselves. They hate babies but love wine and men. Also they serve as perfect gossip mongers for elderly housewives. And enough with the typecasting! I always thought the Pride March was a bunch of gay hooligans shouting slogans on the streets. Turns out it's serious business. All the planning (read permissions required for a "peaceful rally/protest"), the workshops- it’s a lot of work. My first march was also the day when I got caught and fined by the police for boarding the wrong compartment in the local train. (We got into the one meant for handicapped people but that’s another story…ahem). Good job you police of western lines, I appreciate your alertness (especially the alcohol smelling, elderly cop who gave us a long tecture, took 510 rupees from me and "registered" our name on a blank paper)! Anyways, all inhibitions were shed when I saw the huge crowd of people "marching" with pride. I immediately joined and shouted slogans. Slowly I realised that there were among the crowd a lot of "straight" people too- supporters, parents, friends, volunteers. It was very encouraging indeed. The usual suspects were there too- all the queeny men/women dressed up (or down, I’m not sure), the flashy, glittery make-up, costumes. (Esh, how disgusting!) But again, what is a pride march without the variety! I saw the animated faces staring at us. The press and the "normal" people were having a field day. I hugged like a 100 of them. Gay men hug a lot (how "touchy", unhygienic and disgusting... ew). The march ended up in so and so junction and then some small time (gay) celebrity announced "that’s it guys, go back home ASAP. No time for all the pleasantries. The police will be after us now!" I was rushing away from the spot trying to save my life when I got hit in the face with a bunch of red roses (what’s with gay people and the flower shop? disgusting). Gay men are such butter fingers I tell you. "Sorry but my boyfriend gave these to me" he said unapologetically. And I said in my head "yeah gay boy, just don’t rub it on my face"! And gay men take a lot of pictures too which I later uploaded at a popular social website. The response ranges from "I full support you" to "what were you thinking?" We live in a world where the world GAY is censored even in the TV channel subtitles. Tell me, which parents of any respectable family would want their innocent kids to learn about that? They don't exist. It's disgusting! No one knows what it’s like to be part of a minority. Whether you are from the NE, you are handicapped or gay (I was both that day). All we care for is a little sharing, a little consideration and a lot of tolerance. Humanity is never worth it if some fine day we had to stage a march on the streets just for others to acknowledge our existence.