Trans women attend 7th Queer Pride Parade in Kozhikode. People look on. Russel ShahulKozhikode: The seventh edition of the queer pride parade held here on Friday became an open statement of the freedom and the right of the sexual minorities to live with dignity.
Hundreds took part in the parade, organized by Queer Pride Kerala, holding balloons and rainbow flags. V.T. Balram MLA inaugurated the parade, which started from Kozhikode beach. Queer activist Sumathi Moorthy flagged off the rally. The parade passed through the Manachira Square and concluded at Tagore Hall. Transgender activist Lakshmi Narayanan Tripathi inaugurated the cultural meet organized in connection with the event.
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Tripathi said that those belonging to the sexual minorities were forced to flee Kerala as the circumstances in the state do not support them. Kozhikode district collector N. Prasanth was the chief guest of the meet. Writer Dr Khadeeja Mumtaz released the special 'pride issue' of Samghaditha magazine. Activists K Ajitha, Reshma Bharadwaj, Dr Jijo Kuriakose, Chinju Ashwathi, Seethal Shyam and Sarath Cheloor spoke.
A cultural event was held in Thiruvananthapuram the other day as a prelude to the parade.
