Almost 1,000 homosexual protesters and their supporters marched in three main Indian towns on June 29, wishing to put an end to discrimination.

It is said that this was the largest display of gay pride to happen in India. The activists marched in New Delhi, India’s capital, for the first time, setting off on a two-kilometer walk. Calcutta and Bangalore are the other two cities where gays, lesbians and transgender people gathered.

Although people had the courage to fight for sexual freedom, many of them would rather wear masks instead of revealing their identity. A gay student who asked his name not to be made public said: "I am wearing a mask because of several reasons --
social pressure, the reservations of friends, family."

Relationships between homosexual people are strictly prohibited in the Indian state. Its Penal Code contains a stipulation, Section 377, which forbids sexual activity that is “against the order of the nature.” The punishment for the persons that aren’t law-abiding citizens is up to 10 years in prison. This law has been revoked in other past British colonies.

Section 377 has been broadly used to blackmail gays in organized rackets. Marriage is extremely valued and occasionally it is a profitable arrangement between families. Alok Gupta, a 28 years old lawyer who concentrates on gay rights said: "I wish to tell people, the judiciary and the government that gays do exist."

This parade, as an indication of modernity, is an important step for gays, lesbians and transsexuals. As Lesley Esteves, one of the event’s organizers, said, the day was “a terrible sign of progress”. Still, she added: "The road is still long. The battle is far from over."