Tue Nov 26 02:30:00 UTC 2024: **Bengaluru’s Namma Pride Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Rights with Colorful March**
**Bengaluru, India (November 26, 2024)** – The 17th annual Namma Pride march, organized by the Coalition for Sex Workers and Sexual Minority Rights (CSMR), took place in Bengaluru on October 24th, drawing a large and diverse crowd. First-timers and long-time participants alike celebrated LGBTQIA+ rights and community, showcasing vibrant costumes and carrying impactful placards.
The event, described as filled with “love, laughter, and happy colors,” featured participants expressing their excitement about finding a safe space to be themselves and connect with like-minded individuals. Many participants invested significant time in creating elaborate costumes, highlighting the event’s importance.
Namma Pride 2024 also served as a platform to advocate for specific demands, including the establishment of the Karnataka Transgender Corporation with a ₹200 crore grant, increased public awareness regarding the 2018 Supreme Court judgment decriminalizing homosexuality, and an end to police harassment of sex workers. Further demands included improved government app accessibility for the transgender community, better healthcare for HIV-positive individuals, and the full implementation of the Karnataka Transgender Policy 2017. The CSMR emphasized the need for a state-level committee to address LGBTQIA+ issues.
First Piper 