The month of June brings the colours of Pride with it. Everywhere around the world, as well as in India, colourful Pride Parades are taken out, which is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The LGBTQIA+ community is one of us. They too have the right to live with dignity just like other citizens. No Constitution mentions the fact that LGBTQIA+ people should not be treated as citizens. They should have equal rights.
Queer people did exist from ancient times... it was the patriarchal society which never knew about it. The mindset and the mentality of people should change. ‘Everyone is accepted in this society’ should be the attitude of all.
A shoutout to those who have gone against the norms and accepted themselves as gay, lesbian, transgender and others. Wishing the entire LGBTQIA+ community the best of luck in their struggle and I really hope that someday no one feels guilty or afraid to come out as a LGBTQIA+ member. #LoveIsLove (As the world celebrates Pride Month, we want you to tell us what this month means for you, personally... June 15)
Shreya Haldar
Every year Pride Month instils the ideas of equality, freedom and respect in me. Every person is entitled to enjoy the aforesaid rights irrespective of a handful of prejudices existing in society. All of us are an integral part of the world and nobody can clip our wings with their intolerant views. The world is transforming and opening the gates of umpteen possibilities and opportunities inspiring us to break down these stereotypes. The primary key to success is acceptance. If we accept ourselves the way we are, then we are unstoppable. In recent times, Pride Month has been received with overwhelming enthusiasm and active participation from people in India. This is a remarkable feat but the struggle has not ended. We look forward to building a better society that is safe for everyone. We must live and lead by the quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world” and never give up, no matter how many obstructions there are on our path.
Aayman Anwar Ali
Pride Month upholds the maxim ‘live and let live’. It strengthens and reiterates the freedom of choice for all individuals. At its core, is the right of all human beings to just be who they are and discover and establish their identity. On a personal note, it means being an agony aunt to my brother, not being judgmental and supporting him and his partner for a blissful future together.
Pritha C
June marks Pride month around the world, where people celebrate the diversity and inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community. It is a great opportunity to celebrate, reflect and show gratitude to those that have paved the way for a more equitable future — and to continue to fly the rainbow flag for those that still face prejudice, inequality and oppression. To me, Pride is celebrating the past that led us here and the future of intersectional equity we continue to fight for. Pride is about unity. Whether you are gay, straight or bi, black, white or brown — or anything in between — it’s about coming together with friendship, love and respect.
For me, Pride season is a time to reflect on what it means to live an expansive life. Pride month serves as a reminder for me to reflect on the relationship I want to have with myself, and also how I want to relate to others. So many of us feel restricted by norms, traditions, other people’s expectations and desires of us, or the dominant narrative. So many of us let fear, guilt and shame keep us from following our most genuine desires. We get into the habit of erasing parts of ourselves and making our truth small. We give our power away. But the legacy of pride is one of bold, unapologetic, self-celebration. It’s a way of proclaiming to yourself and to the world, “I deserve to take up space on this grand planet, just as I am”. It takes a lot of courage to show up, masks off, in the world — to speak and live your truth. It requires that we be vulnerable. It requires that we know ourselves first. The journey to authentic living can be a rocky and uncomfortable path, but it’s such a worthy endeavour.
Pride means being comfortable with yourself and accepting that you are perfect the way you are. It is an ever-evolving journey and a process; one that involves checking in and growing as you learn more about yourself over time. Pride means letting love guide you through a sometimes unfriendly world; seeing others’ fears as a reflection of them and not you; staying grounded and reassured in your own experience; and having the courage to authentically express yourself. Pride, to me, is being vulnerable and showing my true self, all of me, regardless of what society has to say. It’s celebrating and supporting not only ourselves but the ones we love and bridging the gap of marginalisation. It also means making lots of space for people who are exploring, understanding and unravelling barriers.
Roshni Ojha
‘June’, this word alone sends a chill down my spine. Every June comes with a reminder of loss, love, and excitement. I share my birthday with my uncle, who is alive but I can no longer celebrate the day with him. And without him, every first bite of cake tastes like cardboard to me. It makes me think of how much pain we withhold under the fake composure of our face, under the skin we all know what we are.
On the other hand, June also celebrates my parent’s wedding anniversary. Unlike my misery-filled day, theirs is filled with joy, love and compassion. Each one of their anniversaries is the symbol of their strength and of my parents’ never-ending love for each other. Their smiles are like streaks of sunlight on a cloudy day. Our life is full of memories, bad and good. We don’t have a rewind button, we cannot dwell on our past, so we need to go on. So, June, you will always remind me of my first heartbreak and my favourite heartache, forever.
Adrija Mondal
The first month of the rainy season, June, is also one of the hottest months in Calcutta. What is worse is the extremely high humidity, which has people battling heat and sweat every day. This is the time when one should wear soft cotton clothes, eat healthily and keep oneself hydrated. The much-awaited shower does bring a slight respite to the overbearing heat, but the weather during monsoon in Calcutta is still quite humid. By mid-June, the rainfall intensifies and the city turns into a beautiful, languid place to enjoy at one’s leisure.
It is indeed tempting to get ready for a memorable vacation to some fascinating places like Wayanad, Rishikesh, Ladakh and more. Swimming, practising yoga and exploring creative talents can also make our summer holidays worthwhile.
Thus, for me, June is the ideal month for recreational activities to keep our bodies and souls happy. We should love ourselves enough to live a healthy lifestyle. After all, the greatest wealth is health!
Sohini Raychaudhuri
The word ‘pride’ literally means to be proud. But this is a relative word and is difficult to define it. Pride for me is embracing my true self, being comfortable within myself and being confident about my uniqueness. The colours of pride represent the diversity and uniqueness in each of us. Just like the many colours of a rainbow, we also differ from each other in multiple ways. Some are visible while others are not. Unfortunately, most people try their best to fit in and to be like others though they are not like them. This makes them keep their true selves hidden and leads to unhappiness and a feeling of unfulfillment. As they cannot freely express who they are, their inhibitions prevent them from exploring their full potential in other spheres of life as well. Therefore, we must accept ourselves in the way we are and also accept others for who they are as well.
Tristha Majumdar
For me, celebrating Pride Month means saluting all those people who have been tirelessly fighting for the rights of LGBTQIA+ communities across the globe.
Sourish Misra
Pictures: The Telegraph archives & agencies