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{{Infobox recurring event
|name = Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk
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|status = active
|genre = [[Pride parade]]
|date = {{start date|df=yes|1999|07|02}}
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|frequency =Yearly
|venue = [[Kolkata]]
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|country = [[India]]
|years_active = 1999- present
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|founder_name =Aparajita Majumdar
|last = 2019
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|activity = LGBTQ rights
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|organised = [[Kolkata Rainbow Pride Festival]] (KRPF)
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'''Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk''' (KRPW) is the oldest [[Pride parade|pride walk]] in India and South Asia.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://kindlemag.in/who-said-it-was-simple/|title=Who said it was Simple?|last=Bhattacharya|first=Sthira|date=26 June 2013|work=Kindle Magazine|access-date=2017-06-17|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gaylaxymag.com/latest-news/kolkatas-12th-rainbow-pride-walk-to-be-held-on-july-7-inspires-walks-in-smaller-towns-too/#gs.PL_UYz0|title=Kolkata's 12th Rainbow Pride Walk To Be Held on July 7, Inspires Walks in Smaller Towns Too – Gaylaxy Magazine|website=www.gaylaxymag.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-18}}</ref> The first march in [[Kolkata]] was organised on 2 July 1999.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/Somewhere-over-the-rainbow/articleshow/15016989.cms|title=Somewhere over the rainbow – Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2017-06-18}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/LGBTs-to-walk-for-their-Pride/articleshow/20823856.cms|title=LGBTs to walk for their Pride – Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2017-06-18}}</ref> The walk was called The Friendship Walk.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gaylaxymag.com/exclusive/a-walk-to-remember/#gs.hWjc4nQ|title=A Walk to Remember – Gaylaxy Magazine|website=www.gaylaxymag.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-17}}</ref> Kolkata was chosen as the first city to host the march owing to Kolkata's history of movements for human and [[Political Rights]]. Currently, Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk is organised by the [[Kolkata Rainbow Pride Festival]] (KRPF).<ref name=":0" />

Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk is held with the intention of making a political statement for [[Social equality|Equality]], [[Social tolerance|Tolerance]], Love and [[Solidarity]]. The walk is held to strengthen the voice for equality for all – irrespective of [[gender]], [[sexuality]], religion, etc. The participants walk in solidarity with all rights based movements, [[Child rights]], [[Women's rights]], [[Dalit]] rights, Rights of the [[Disabled]]/differently-abled, students groups, and others.

== History ==

=== 1999 ===
Kolkata's pride march 1999 was the first ever march in [[India]], organised on 2 July 1999.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /> The walk was called The Friendship Walk.<ref name=":1" /> The march began with hardly fifteen participants and some of these participants came from other cities in India, including [[Mumbai]] and [[Bangalore]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1120716/jsp/calcutta/story_15733112.jsp|title=Pride parade breaks record|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2017-06-17}}</ref> The participants were wearing specially designed, bright yellow T-shirts with graphics of footsteps and a caption reading "Walk on the Rainbow".<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Some well-known people who participated in The Friendship Walk included [[Ashok Row Kavi]], Nitin Karani, Pawan Dhall, Owais Khan and Rafique-Ul-Haque-Dowjah-Ranjan. The idea of a pride walk to highlight the issue took birth in the mind of Owais Khan.<ref name=":1" />

The participants of The Friendship Walk split into two different groups after walking a certain distance. One group went towards [[North Kolkata]] and the other group went towards [[South Kolkata]].<ref name=":1" /> The two teams went to various NGOs, including WB SACS, Human Rights Organisation and other NGOs working for prevention of [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]] and also met a few famous personalities like Maitree Chatterjee, who has been one of the strongest voices behind women movement in Kolkata and put forward their agenda and demands.<ref name=":1" />

By the time the two teams had reached George Bhavan, the final destination of the march, all the major English and regional newspapers and television channels had reached there to cover the event.<ref name=":1" /> The participants talked to the media about the reason behind the walk and issues they wanted the government to look at and also handed them the media release and other literature of the march. It was followed by an impromptu walk for the shutterbugs by those participants who were comfortable being photographed.<ref name=":1" /> The media coverage of the walk spread far and wide and the participants received a lot of support from within the country as well as from other South Asian countries like [[Pakistan]] and [[Bangladesh]].<ref name=":1" />

=== 2003 ===
After 1999, the pride walk in Kolkata hadn't been organised again until June 2003. Rafique-Ul-Haque-Dowjah-Ranjan had rekindled the idea again, which resulted in Kolkata's second pride march.<ref name=":1" /> The walk was organised by Integration Society and other groups like Amitie. The second pride walk of Kolkata was attended by around 50 people. The walk had started from Park Circus Maidan and had ended at [[Jagadbandhu Institution|Jagabandhu Institution]].<ref name=":1" />

During the 2013 pride walk, some participants had asked a photojournalist to cover the walk sensitively in the media. The photojournalist had taken offence and ha threatened that he had the power to paint a very negative picture of the march. Because of the altercation, the march was stalled for a few minutes.<ref name=":0" />

=== 2004 ===
The 2004 pride march saw a four-fold increase in the turnout for the walk from the 2003 march. Over 200 people participated in the 2004 walk.<ref name=":1" />

=== 2005 ===
Buoyed by the response received during the 2004 pride march, in 2005 an entire week of celebration was hosted. The events of this week-long celebration involved a 3-day film festival, seminars at American Centre, activities at Infosem, a day of interaction with parents and another day for media briefings.<ref name=":1" /> The music video "Pokkhiraaj" (Pegasus), by the [[Bengal]]i rock band Cactus was also released in the Rainbow week. This video used blue apple to symbolise [[LGBT]] people and relations. The event culminated in a pride march.<ref name=":1" />

=== 2008 ===
On 29 June 2008, Kolkata hosted a queer pride parade, which was coordinated with the queer pride parades of three other Indian cities ([[Delhi]], [[Bangalore]] and [[Pondicherry]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/queer-pride-parades-in-india/a-5212309|title='Queer Pride' Parades in India {{!}} Asia {{!}} DW {{!}} 30 June 2008|last=(www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche Welle|website=DW.COM|language=en|access-date=2017-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/29/AR2008062901879.html|title=Hundreds March in India for Gay Rights|last=Wax|first=Emily|date=30 June 2008|work=The Washington Post|access-date=2017-06-17|last2=Sen|first2=Ria|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1818912,00.html|title=Gay Pride Delhi-Style|last=Singh|first=Madhur|date=29 June 2008|work=Time|access-date=2017-06-17|language=en-US|issn=0040-781X}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Celebration-of-liberty-Rainbow-groups-gear-up-for-pride-parade/articleshow/14813706.cms|title=Celebration of liberty: Rainbow groups gear up for pride parade – Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2017-06-17}}</ref>

=== 2011 ===
The pride march 2011 in Kolkata was organised by the Kolkata Rainbow Pride Festival, a non-profit collective of individuals and organisations.<ref name=":4" /> This was the first year that women joined the parade. About 6 women participated in the Pride March.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1120716/jsp/calcutta/story_15733112.jsp|title=Pride parade breaks record|last=Das|first=Mohua|date=16 July 2012|work=Telegraph India|access-date=21 June 2017}}</ref>

=== 2012 ===
Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk 2012 was organised on 15 July. The march started from the Hazra Crossing and the end point of the march was in front of [[Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata|Academy of Fine Arts]], [[Rabindra Sadan]].<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gaysifamily.com/2012/07/11/kolkata-rainbow-pride-walk-2012/|title=Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk 2012|date=11 July 2012|website=Gaysi|access-date=2017-06-17}}</ref> The number of participants in the Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk 2012 touched 1500 and the number of women participants in the march also increased.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":2" /> This year 25% of the participants in the walk were women.<ref name=":2" />

Kolkata Rainbow Pride Festival (KRPF) also organised an exhibition of paintings, photographs, posters, video art and pamphlets of NGOs working on gender and sexuality rights before the Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk 2012.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=https://pink-pages.co.in/news-digest/kolkata-lgbt-pride-festival-2012-season-starts-with-art-exhibition/|title=Kolkata LGBT Pride Festival 2012 season starts with art exhibition – Pink Pages|date=5 June 2012|work=Pink Pages|access-date=2017-06-18|language=en-US}}</ref> The exhibition was titled 'Broadening the Canvas ~ Celebrating Blemishes' and was hosted at [[Indian Council for Cultural Relations|ICCR]], Ho Chi Minh Sarani, near to US Consulate in Kolkata.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=http://gaysifamily.com/2012/06/09/broadening-the-canvas-celebrating-blemishes/|title=Broadening the Canvas: Celebrating Blemishes|date=9 June 2012|website=Gaysi|access-date=2017-06-18}}</ref> The exhibition opened on 9 June and was to end on 14 June. The theme of the exhibition was Gender & Sexuality.<ref name=":8" /> The exhibition was curated by a Delhi-based art historian and joint secretary of Performers Independent, Rahul Bhattacharya.<ref name=":7" /> The exhibition showcased the works of Balbir Krishan, Anuradha Upadhaya, Deepak Tandon, Jayna Mistry, Jose Abad, Mandakini Devi, Manmeet Devgun, Moumita Shaw, Paribartan Mohanty, Prakash Kishore, Rudra Kishore Mandal, Suchismita Ukil, Syed Taufik Riaz, Tapati Choudhury and Vidisha Saini.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8" />

=== 2013 ===
Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk 2013 was the 12th annual pride march of Kolkata without any interruption since 2003.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":9">{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/gay-pride-walks-into-12th-edition/|title=Gay pride walks into 12th edition|date=7 July 2013|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2017-06-18|language=en-US}}</ref> It was held on 7 July 2013. Like Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk 2012, the 2013 march also started from the Hazra Crossing and the end point of the march was in front of Academy of Fine Arts, Rabindra Sadan.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":9" /> A fundraising party on 22 June and a workshop at the American Center on 28 June were organised before the pride walk.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" /> ''[[I Am (2010 Indian film)|I am Omar]]'', a short film on a [[same-sex relationship]] by [[Onir]], was also screened at the Lincoln room as a part of the workshop where the filmmaker himself was present to support the pride walk.<ref name=":6" /> About 500 members of the community chanted slogans during the march.<ref name=":9"/> The 12th annual pride march of Kolkata witnessed participation from Indian states like [[Delhi]], Karnataka and [[Odisha]] as well as foreign participants from [[Nepal]], [[African Countries]] and the United States.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/lgbt-community-participate-in-pride-walk/article4893615.ece|title=LGBT community participate in pride walk|author=Staff Reporter|work=The Hindu|access-date=2017-06-18|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/kolkata-pride-walk-protests-violence-against-all-genders-113070700618_1.html|title=Kolkata Pride Walk protests violence against all genders|last=IANS|date=7 July 2013|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2017-06-18}}</ref>

=== 2014 ===
Kolkata experienced its 13th annual queer pride walk on 13 July 2014, which was organised by the team of Kolkata Rainbow Pride Festival (KRPF).<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gaylaxymag.com/latest-news/krpf-announces-kolkata-rainbow-pride-walk-for-2014/|title=KRPF Announces Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk for 2014 – Gaylaxy Magazine|website=www.gaylaxymag.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/kolkata/LGBT-pride-walk-in-Kolkata-sees-huge-turnout/articleshow/38548966.cms?slideshow=38542222&slide=38542296|title=LGBT pride walk in Kolkata sees huge turnout – Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1140714/jsp/calcutta/story_18612347.html|title=The Telegraph – Images|website=www.telegraphindia.com|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref> The participants had marched from Triangular Park on [[Rashbehari Avenue]] to [[Jodhpur Park]]. The route was changed a little as the timings of the march clashed with chief minister [[Mamata Banerjee]]'s visit to an [[Iftar]] at [[Park Circus]], which would have been the end point of the march according to the original plan.<ref name=":11" /> A [[Fundraising|fundraiser]] party before the pride walk was also organised by KRPF on 5 July 2014, to generate revenue for the walk.<ref name=":10" /> The walk saw over 1,500 people in attendance.<ref name=":12" /> The organisers said the turnout would have been even more if it hadn't rained during the walk.<ref name=":11" />

Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk 2014 promoted tolerance towards diversity as well as talked about the NALSA ([[National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India|National Legal Services Authority]]) judgement, which recognizes the legal and constitutional rights of [[Transgender|transgenders people]], the rights of the [[eunuch]] community, and the right to gender self-determination.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":12" />

=== 2015 ===
Kolkata's 14th annual queer pride walk was held on 13 December 2015. The theme of the walk was 'Walking with Love and Solidarity'.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-kolkata-lgbt-community-takes-part-in-pride-walk-2155354|title=Kolkata: LGBT community takes part in Pride walk {{!}} Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=13 December 2015|work=dna|access-date=2017-06-19|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.india.com/news/india/kolkata-lgbt-community-takes-part-in-rainbow-pride-walk-2015-782208/|title=Kolkata: LGBT community takes part in Rainbow Pride Walk 2015|last=English|first=Wires|date=14 December 2015|work=India.com|access-date=2017-06-19|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite news|url=http://www.eyeartcollective.com/kolkata-pride-parade/|title=Rainbow Pride Parade 2015: Walking with Love and Solidarity {{!}} EYEZINE|date=30 October 2015|work=EYEZINE|access-date=2017-06-19|language=en-GB}}</ref> Initially, the 14th Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk was to begin from [[College Square, Kolkata|College Square]], converge at the Y Channel and end at Esplanade Metro Channel.<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":14">{{Cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/locality/jadavpur/route-14th-kolkata-rainbow-pride-walk-changed-president%E2%80%99s-visit-78211|title=Route of 14th Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk changed for President's visit|date=8 December 2015|work=dna|access-date=2017-06-19|language=en-US}}</ref> However, the route was changed in lieu of President [[Pranab Mukherjee]]'s visit to the city on the same date as the pride march. The route was changed after a meeting held between senior officers of [[Lalbazar]] – Kolkata Police Headquarters and the organisers of the pride walk. The walk then started from [[Shyambazar]] and ended at Moulali.<ref name=":14" />

=== 2016 ===
Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk 2016 was held on 11 December 2016.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|url=https://feminisminindia.com/2016/12/12/in-photos-kolkata-rainbow-pride-walk-2016/|title=In Photos: Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk, 2016|last=Das|first=Shreya|date=12 December 2016|website=Feminism in India|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref><ref name=":16">{{Cite news|url=http://www.oneindia.com/india/hundreds-from-lgbt-community-walk-demand-end-discrimination-2288178.html|title=Hundreds from LGBT community walk to demand end to discrimination|work=www.oneindia.com|access-date=2017-06-19|language=en}}</ref> The march began from Esplanade Y Channel in central Kolkata to Park Circus Maidan.<ref name=":16" /><ref name=":17">{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/photos/lifestyle-gallery/kolkata-rainbow-pride-walk-2016-justice-for-tara-revoke-section-377-4422171/|title=Flaunting rainbow flags, hundreds march in Kolkata Pride Walk 2016 to seek equal rights|date=11 December 2016|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2017-06-19|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hidden-pockets.com/kolkata-rainbow-pride-walk-2016-lighting-the-way-for-all/|title=Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk 2016: Lighting the way for all!|date=12 December 2016|access-date=2017-06-19|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":18">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nmtv.tv/lgbt-community-participates-in-kolkatas-rainbow-pride-walk-2016/|title=LGBT community participates in Kolkata's Rainbow Pride Walk 2016 {{!}} NMTV|last=NMTV|website=www.nmtv.tv|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref><ref name=":19">{{Cite web|url=http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31812&articlexml=Glimpses-from-Kolkata-Rainbow-Pride-Walk-2016-Walking-20122016103046|title=Glimpses from Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk 2016: Walking with love and solidarity|date=20 December 2016|website=The Times Group|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref> The theme of Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk 2016 was 'Law and Rights'.<ref name=":17" /><ref name=":19" /> The theme was depicted by the participants through their colorful and fascinating costumes. An interactive session was also organised on 2 December 2016, where a film was screened and thoughts and queer writings were shared amongst the participants.<ref name=":17" />

The participants and organizers of the Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk 2016 demanded the revocation of [[Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code|Section 377]] of the [[Indian Penal Code]] to exclude consensual same-sex activity from its purview.<ref name=":19" /> They said that the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016, should be withdrawn and demanded the introduction of a new bill incorporating the community's input. The organizers also took up the cause to provide justice to Tara, a 28 year old transgender woman who worked with many NGO’s such as Sahodaran. She was found dead in Chennai in skeptical circumstances after being severely burnt. They also demanded a judicial probe into Tara's death.<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":16" /><ref name=":17" /><ref name=":18" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/india/lgbt-community-brings-rainbow-to-kolkata-streets/985842|title=LGBT community brings Rainbow to Kolkata streets {{!}} Free Press Journal|website=www.freepressjournal.in|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-06-19}}</ref>

Ending the Pride walk all shouted: "It is my body and my wish... be gone demons."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/photos/lifestyle-gallery/kolkata-rainbow-pride-walk-2016-justice-for-tara-revoke-section-377-4422171/2/|title=Flaunting rainbow flags, hundreds march in Kolkata Pride Walk 2016 to seek equal rights|date=2016-12-11|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2018-06-30|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 2017 ===
Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk 2017 was held on 10 December 2017 Sunday. The march began from Deshapriya Park and ended at Park Circus Maidan. The march was held on the same day as Transgender Day of Rage and it was preceded by 'protest against the proposed Transgender Persons Bill 2016<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-transgender-persons-protection-of-rights-bill-2016-4360/|title=PRS {{!}} Bill Track {{!}} The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016|website=www.prsindia.org|language=en|access-date=2018-03-20}}</ref>' which was being debated at the parliament at the time and was considered to be regressive and ineffective by majority of LGBT community.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/kolkata/kolkata-s-lgbt-community-wants-opposition-parties-to-unite-against-bill-on-transgenders/story-vDhDNB12KAFH1imrr4YLdO.html|title=Kolkata’s LGBT community wants opposition parties to unite against bill on transgenders|date=2017-12-11|work=hindustantimes.com/|access-date=2018-03-20|language=en}}</ref> The bill does not provide for the enforcement of the right to ‘self-perceived’ gender identity for a person recognized as a ‘transgender’. The bill also lacks certainty about the recognition of the transgender persons in the application of certain criminal and personal laws that are currently in force.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-transgender-persons-protection-of-rights-bill-2016-4360/|title=PRS {{!}} Bill Track {{!}} The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016|website=www.prsindia.org|language=en|access-date=2018-06-30}}</ref> Handouts were also passed around that gave an emphasis on the dangerous nature of the bill. Souvik Som, a founder member of the Kolkata Pride Festival and also one of the organizers of the Kolkata Pride Walk since 2011 says “Furthermore, the Bill criminalizes begging without offering other livelihood options to transgender / Hijra people. Then they’ll have to starve and die!”<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thebeaconkolkata.co.in/kolkata-rainbow-pride-walk-2017/|title=Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk 2017 - The Beacon Kolkata|last=Kabiraj|first=Ipsita|date=2017-12-11|work=The Beacon Kolkata|access-date=2018-06-30|language=en-US}}</ref>

The protest commenced at 1 PM and concluded at 2:15 PM, the Pride march began after that. Hundreds of people supporting the LGBTQ community marched down the streets carrying rainbow flags highlighting their demands by shouting slogans. The March’s primary objectives were the withdrawal of the bill, implementation of the NALSA judgement and challenging the controversial nature of the Section 377 of IPC.

The poster making workshop cum volunteers' meeting for Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk 2017 was held on 3 December 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.kolkatapride.org/2017/11/17/pre-pride-workshop-cum-volunteers-meetup-2017/|title=Pre-Pride Workshop cum Volunteers' Meetup 2017 {{!}} Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk|date=2017-11-17|work=Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk|access-date=2018-03-20|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 2018 ===
On 30 December 2018, the last Sunday of the year, Kolkata's LGBTIQKHA+ community organised their annual event called the Rainbow Pride Walk which commenced from Jatin Das Park and concluded at the Vivekananda Park, located in the southern Kolkata.<ref name="thequint.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/photos/kolkatas-lgbt-community-marches-with-pride|title=In Pics: Kolkata’s LGBTQ+ Community Marches With Pride|date=2018-12-31|website=The Quint|language=en|access-date=2019-06-15}}</ref> This year's Pride Parade was noteworthy since this was the first one since a part of Section 377 was read down by the Supreme Court in ''[[Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India]]'' on 6 September 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/section-377-read-down-when-lovers-of-liberty-rose-to-the-occasion-118090601387_1.html|title=Section 377 read down: When lovers of liberty rose to the occasion|last=Kishore|first=Sanjay Hegde & Pranjal|date=2018-09-07|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-06-15}}</ref> The initiative aims at celebrating non-normative sexual orientation and invites people who have been discriminated for their Gender and Sexual Minorities, Disability and Profession (Sex work, Prostitution).<ref name="thequint.com"/> This 17th Pride Walk, one of the oldest in India, saw a crowd of more than thousand people who witnessed this monumental event. Although the Pride Parade happily celebrated the reading down of Section 377, it simultaneously also protested against the Transgender Persons Bill<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-transgender-persons-bill-2016/article21226710.ece|title=All you need to know about the Transgender Persons Bill, 2016|last=Abraham|first=Rohan|date=2017-11-30|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-06-15|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>[https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-transgender-persons-bill-2016/article21226710.ece], 2016 introduced by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, subsequently passed by the Lok Sabha.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/videos/news-videos/transgender-rights-bill-activists-concerns|title=Watch: Why Activists Are Worried About the Transgender Rights Bill|date=2018-12-28|website=The Quint|language=en|access-date=2019-06-15}}</ref> This Bill demands Transgenders to provide a medical examination report in order to be recognized as trans-people.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-transgender-persons-bill-2016/article21226710.ece|title=All you need to know about the Transgender Persons Bill, 2016|last=Abraham|first=Rohan|date=2017-11-30|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-06-15|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Such a legislation only reintroduces surveillance by the government.<ref name="thequint.com"/>

== See also ==
* [[Homosexuality in India]]
* [[Kolkata Rainbow Pride Festival]]
* [[LGBT culture in India]]
* [[LGBT rights in India]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* https://kolkatapride.org

{{Kolkata topics}}

[[Category:1999 establishments in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Pride parades in India]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1999]]
[[Category:Culture of Kolkata]]
[[Category:1999 in LGBT history]]

Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 09:04, 14 August 2023