Chennai: One-year-old Anu* was the youngest participant in Chennai's 9th LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) pride march on Sunday at Egmore.
Her mother, an advocate, has been a participant in the pride walk for the past six years, and this year, she was accompanied by her daughter for the same.
“I have friends from LGBT community and for the past many years, I have been an activist for their rights,” said the lawyer.
The evening saw colors of the rainbow spread in the form of posters, painted faces and colorfully dressed individuals marching over a 2.5 km distance for LGBT rights.
Jubilant faces marched and danced celebrating their queerness and raising captions like 'It's not a crime to love someone from the same gender.'
City people, including those from the queer community as well as those, who were just raising their voices to support the community marched on Cooum River road.
The march began with about 600-odd participants observing silence for a minute for the Orlando killings.
“I have always been queer all my life, and I am proud to be. People should be allowed to be what they are,” said Vallan, another member of the community, who felt that there is much more organized space in the society for the LGBT community now than what was some years ago.
Felix, another participant, said that the Orlando killings were sad as the 50 people were killed for being themselves, and due to a lack of acceptance.
“Hatred against LGBT members is a global phenomenon, and when people come forward in such huge numbers, it earns a lot more support for the community, he added.
