Kolkata, June 29: Gay activists today came out on the city streets and held a procession for the first time here demanding their acceptance by the society as any normal human being. Wearing lipsticks, maskara, eyeliners and other forms of make-up, at least 40 gay activists participated in the "Walk on the rainbow" that was held to commemorate the stonewall riots on June 26, 1969, which changed the way the gays were till then looked upon in the western world.
But, unlike fancy dresses seen in gay parades in the western world, the processionists wore regular dresses and remained silent unlike their slogan-shouting western brethren.
Lesbians were also invited to the parade, but none turned up, possibly due to social stigma attached to alternative sexuality, Ranjan Haq, secretary of integration society, which organised the parade, said after the march.
Arpan Banerjee, one of the participants in the parade, said, "different sexual orientation does not mean we are inferior to any one else in society and we should be accepted as any other normal human being."
Vikram, another gay activist, said that his family members had insisted upon his joining the parade as they did not want him to wear a mask and hide from the world.
The activists walked from Park Circus Maidan to Rabindra Sarovar stadium, a distance of about four km, and held a small meeting. They wore badges and held placards with slogans in support of their demands for recognition and dignity. Bureau Report