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| Gay pride march debuts in Delhi | Gay pride march debuts in Delhi |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of gay rights supporters have marched in the Indian capital, Delhi, for the first time. | Hundreds of gay rights supporters have marched in the Indian capital, Delhi, for the first time. |
| Gays, lesbians and transgender people gathered in the central Connaught Place area in what was the country's largest ever display of gay pride. | Gays, lesbians and transgender people gathered in the central Connaught Place area in what was the country's largest ever display of gay pride. |
| Activists also marched in the cities of Calcutta, which has seen similar events in the past, and Bangalore. | Activists also marched in the cities of Calcutta, which has seen similar events in the past, and Bangalore. |
| The marchers were demanding an end to discrimination in a society where homosexuality is still illegal. | The marchers were demanding an end to discrimination in a society where homosexuality is still illegal. |
| The gay pride marches are a global event held in the last week of June every year. | The gay pride marches are a global event held in the last week of June every year. |
| They commemorate the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York which broke out after police raided a gay bar. | They commemorate the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York which broke out after police raided a gay bar. |
| 'Celebrating sexuality' | 'Celebrating sexuality' |
| Marchers in Delhi on Sunday shouted "long live queer movement" and danced merrily and waved the rainbow flag, revered by sexual minorities around the world. | Marchers in Delhi on Sunday shouted "long live queer movement" and danced merrily and waved the rainbow flag, revered by sexual minorities around the world. |
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| Scenes from the gay rights protest in Delhi | |
| "This is for the first time Delhi is organising a pride festival to celebrate sexuality and people of all sexualities," student Mario Depeno was quoted by news agency Reuters as saying. | "This is for the first time Delhi is organising a pride festival to celebrate sexuality and people of all sexualities," student Mario Depeno was quoted by news agency Reuters as saying. |
| "Gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender and even straight are coming together here to talk and to celebrate, it's a party, to celebrate themselves," he said. | "Gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender and even straight are coming together here to talk and to celebrate, it's a party, to celebrate themselves," he said. |
| In the eastern city of Calcutta, thousands of people gathered to watch the march which has now become an annual event. | In the eastern city of Calcutta, thousands of people gathered to watch the march which has now become an annual event. |
| "This is a space, this is a public space, this is a space for reclaiming," Reuters quoted one participant, Anindya, as saying. | "This is a space, this is a public space, this is a space for reclaiming," Reuters quoted one participant, Anindya, as saying. |
| "This is a rally to reclaim our space, the right to live without violence, without coercion, the right to live freely with equality and with dignity," he said. | "This is a rally to reclaim our space, the right to live without violence, without coercion, the right to live freely with equality and with dignity," he said. |
| Homosexuality is illegal in India and various groups are lobbying the government and the courts for a change in the law, which has been in place for more than 145 years. | Homosexuality is illegal in India and various groups are lobbying the government and the courts for a change in the law, which has been in place for more than 145 years. |
| Brought in under British rule, the legal system recognises gay and lesbian relationships "as an unnatural offence". | Brought in under British rule, the legal system recognises gay and lesbian relationships "as an unnatural offence". |
| In some Indian states people have taken their own lives because they have found the law unbearable. | In some Indian states people have taken their own lives because they have found the law unbearable. |
| The US-based group Human Rights Watch has also expressed concern about India's colonial-era law. | The US-based group Human Rights Watch has also expressed concern about India's colonial-era law. |
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