17 August,2009 07:02 AM IST | | Hemal Ashar
Posters of the "homophobic" yoga guru were very popular at the gay pride march yesterday
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev was an unlikely poster boy at the Queer Azaadi March yesterday afternoon.
Several of the 500 people present at the march were carrying posters of Baba Ramdev who spoke out against the Delhi High Court ruling decriminalising homosexuality.
One clutch of men carrying his poster said their message to Baba Ramdev was "unprintable". Yet another Ramdev placard-bearing woman, Sabah, said, "Maybe he is just terribly homophobic."
Actress Celina Jaitley flagged off the march at 3.40 pm while dancing on Kennedy Bridge with lezim dancers.
At the colourful parade, a young man wore a poster saying, 'My brother is gay and I am proud of him', another woman held up a banner saying, 'Proud Indian lesbian'.
Sophie wore a black T-shirt saying, 'I love my girlfriend'. She said, "My girlfriend is not at the march, but I hope she is proud of me wearing this."
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Professor Nandini Sardesai, a sociologist, was present at the march and was heartened by the personal messages.
"But attitudes still need a change. Six of my students are doing a project on gay issues, but only four were allowed at the march. Parents of the other two didn't want them to attend a gay event.
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It would be easier to explain to my maid to change her mindset, than the so-called educated and enlightened people," said Sardesai who was dressed in all pink in support of the gay cause.
Gay-Together at Liquid Lounge
The gays, who took part in the Queer Azaadi March yesterday, met up at the Liquid Lounge at Charni Road last night to celebrate its grand success.
The choice of songs reflected the mood, including Amma Dekh... Tera Munda Bigda Jaye and Maa Da Ladlaa Bigad Gaya.
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Around 700-900 gays attended the party and around 90 gays from the Delhi joined in the celebrations.
According to gay activists, this was one of the biggest parades in the country.
Inputs from Varun Singh
