Written by Mehak Tiwari
Shyama Prasad Mukherji College for Women, DU
#loveislove floated and hoarded everywhere. The rainbow which is seen often after rain has now started blooming after a lot of “societal” rains during this month of the year. So what’s special this month..? Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month is celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Though to celebrate love and pride we don’t require a particular month we can celebrate it with all 365 days but to honor those who left and the intent to honor those who are alive, facing the society, and making and fighting for an equal space is what really matters. These celebrations consist of pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ+ Pride Month events that attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that individuals of this community have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.
THE RAINBOW FLAG
A symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and queer pride, and LGBT social movements. Also known as the gay pride flag or LGBT pride flag, the colors reflect the diversity of the LGBT community and the spectrum of human sexuality and gender. In 1978, Artist Gilbert Baker, an openly gay man, and a drag queen, designed the first rainbow flag. Baker later revealed that he was urged by Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S., to create a symbol of pride for the gay community. Baker decided to make that symbol a flag because he saw flags as the most powerful symbol of pride. Eight colors for the stripes, each color with its own meaning
– hot pink for sex,
– red for life,
– orange for healing,
– yellow for sunlight,
– green for nature,
– turquoise for art,
– indigo for harmony,
– violet for spirit.
CONCLUSION:-
A country like ours which is full of rich culture and heritage has been teaching us about gender fluidity through its language and epics then why we as the citizens are questioning and saying this is all westernized and degrading our culture. Even Sanskrit grammar uses more than two genders, our epics, and religious texts talk about Shikhandi in Mahabharata, Arjuna being Bhrenhala in Mahabharata during the time of exile, Lord Shiva as Ardhanarishwara, Lord Vishnu as Mohini at the time of Samudra Manthan. Babuchara Mata is a patron goddess of the Hijra community. All these are evidence thus Stop claiming that you are preserving the culture if you are non accepting of this since the people who are being themselves are cultured enough and you who sees this as a new fad you are being the one who is hiding our culture. Instead of having pity and sympathy, one must treat LGBTQ+ individuals with full dignity and respect. Individuals who don’t belong to this community are also welcomed in this to support and honor, so if you think that this is for people who are from LGBTQ+ then you are mistaken. There are lots of movies and series made up on this one such great examples are the movie “Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhaan” and a web series “Made in Heaven” to look into lives deeper and empathize. So in the end, let’s celebrate this month of pride and love together!!#loveislove
