From photo exhibition to shopping mela, Bengaluru Pride and Karnataka Queer Habba 2010 brings a galore of colourful events celebrating various sexual identities kickstarting this Thursday

From photo exhibition to shopping mela, Bengaluru Pride and Karnataka Queer Habba 2010 brings a galore of colourful events celebrating various sexual identities kickstarting this Thursday

We generally see them at dharnas and protests passionately talking about rights and social injustices related to their identities. But get ready now to see them as filmmakers, poets and theatre artistes. Thanks to the third Bengaluru Pride and Karnataka Queer Habba 2010.

The nearly 10-day-long programme will see sexual minorities across the state in their creative avatars as they gear to celebrate their identities. Though the event aims to tell the world about who they are, what they want and need in terms of basic freedom, rights and identity, yet it is sprinkled with loads of entertaining and cultural events, Bengaluru Pride and Karnataka Queer Habba 2010 promises to be full of fun, music and more.

Sharing that this year the festival also celebrates how article 377 was repealed after the success of Bengaluru Pride March 2009, Akkai, Kothi and an activist says, "We are always associated with discriminations and stigmas. We also needu00a0 some day to celebrate our pride and have some fun."

Bengaluru Pride and Karnataka Queer Habba 2010 organised by Campaign for Sex Workers and Sexual Minority Rights (CSMR), which expects a turnout of around 800 people from all over the state is open to all and will be featuring events like a Queer Art Exhibit at 1, Shanti Road, story-telling at Maara, poetry sessions, songs, theatre, a Queer mela, short films screening and more.

Explaining that the habba is lighthearted approach to deeper issues, Niruj Mohan from CSMR says, "The festival also aims at making people comfortable about who they are. Such events give rise to awareness and impart visibility to minorities and provide them a platform to express what they undergo and feel."

MiD DAY brings you a list of what Bengaluru Pride and Karnataka Queer Habba 2010 has in store for you:

Love Across Boundaries
This will be a panel discussion where members of the LGBT group and other activists will talk about how love knows no barriers of gender, sexuality, class and religion. The discussion will explore how the spirit and essence of love is being categorized into 'natural' and 'unnatural'.
On: November 18, 3pm onwards
At: ISI Hall, Indian Social Institute, Benson Road

Park Bench Stories
Ranging from heartbreaks to joys of love, this event is an open forum for the LGBT community to share their love stories. So if you want to spend a sunny afternoon on a park bench while listening to unheard stories, then this is for you
On: November 20, 3 pm to 5 pm
At: Cubbon Park Band stand

Transgender Day of Remembrance
It is an evening where people will gather for a candlelight vigil to remember all the transgender friends, who lost their lives.
On: November 20, 6 pm
At: Gandhi Statue, MG Road

Pride Mela
It is all about colour, colour and more colour. From jewellery, to kurtas and t-shirts this mela has something for all. Also Azaad Bazaar, India's first LGBT pride store from Mumbai is here to tell you what looks best on you.
On: November 21, 11 am
At: Samsa Open Air Auditorium, next to Ravindra Kalakshetra

Movie Screenings
Throughout the festival everyday queer themed films like Times of Harvey Milk, Saving Marriage, Coming Out, For the Bible Tells Me So, Puccini for Beginners and more will be showcased.
On: from November 18 to 27, 6 pm onwards
At: Swabhava, Sampangiramnagar

Body Politics
These photographs are not for voyeuristic and visual pleasure. Shiva, Arnab, Nishant and Indu, the four photographers from Bengaluru bring to you a rare view of people whom society terms as different. The exhibition shows how people want to portray themselves with make-up, masquerades and sometimes through sex change. They also explore their living spaces and tell some unheard stories.
On: from November 22 to 24
At: 1 Shanthi Road, Shanthinagar

Airing our shorts
Around 20 people from the sexual minorities' community in Namma Benaguluru are trying their hands for the first time in making short films and documentaries on gender and sexuality. Kaadal Thirunal, Challenge and En Aasai, En Kanavu are some of the films that will be shown.
On: November 24, 6 pm to 8 pm
At: SCM House, Mission Road

Queer Word
Here is a chance for the poets in Bangalore to bare their hearts out. The event will have people from the community read out verses written by them expressing the various nuances of being different.
On: November 25, 6 pm
At: Jaaga, Shanthinagar

LGBT experiences in Karnataka
More than 10 activists from all across the state will be coming together to interact and discuss socio-political issues faced by the minorities.
On: November 26, 3 pm
At: ISI Hall, Indian Social Institute, Benson Road

Book Readings
The book Pink Sheep by Mahesh Natarajan will be read and discussed followed by the reading of God Loves Hair by Vivek Shraya
On: November 27, 3 pm
At: Vishranthi Nilayam, Infantry Road

Reflections and post-377 Priorities
This panel of discussion will look at achievements by the LGBT community in the past years and will discuss the issues and priorities in the coming years.
On: November 27, 4 pm onwards
At: Vishranthi Nilayam, Infantry Road

Pride March
The entire community welcomes you to participate in a pride march showing sexual minorities are proud to be what they are and deserve an equal position in the society.
On: November 28, 2 pm
From: Tulsi Park (Next to Majestic bus stand) to Town Hall
For more information log onto: www.bangalorepride.com
Call: 99452 29629