'Pride Month' fete goes online

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month is celebrated annually to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots that followed hard efforts to achieve justice and equal opportunity for the group in America. Now, due to Covid-19 pandemic, hundreds of pride events have been cancelled across the world. But the LGBT community is celebrating the event by going online.

A city-based NGO, 'Mobbera Foundation', involved in creating awareness about the LGBT community and working for the transgenders, would be celebrating the Pride Month online. The NGO, started in 2015 by IT employees Sandipan Kushary (Sandy) and Anil Kohli, primarily focuses on awareness, trans-health and trans-education. Sandy says, "We want to reach out to everyone and engage people through this live platform. All our events are cancelled due to social distancing norms and we cannot meet anyone. We booked Lamakaan four months back but because of social isolation we cannot celebrate. We want to be there and connect through this platform."

"This year the celebrations and events are being carried out on online platforms like Instagram and Facebook. We are holding events like pageant competition and each day one real-life story of a transgenders. Though it will be a 28-day celebration with 28 stories online, but we would be still missing the real celebrations," says Sandy.

"We are inviting the real-life heroes to our Instagram live to share their experiences and problems they faced in volunteering and helping people. We would be felicitating the frontline warriors who went all out in aid of pandemic victims," adds Sandy.

He says, "'Mobbera Foundation' is collaborating with other five NGOs who are working for LGBQ. Rituraj Vasantha Karthik founder and community builder of Hyderabad Kites, Surya Chowdhary volunteer in SCSC, Krishna Kumar, founder of Roshni counselling centre, Dr Zara Naazneen, programme head, good universe NGO and Teja, founder of Animal welfare and animal rights activist. They are the speakers at the 'pandemic heroes' event."

He says, "While we maintain physical distancing, let's bring out our Qouples, who have been in relationship to share their beautiful stories and can send a message to the world that queer relationships are as normal as heterosexuals."

Like every year, 'Mobbera' is back with its prestigious event "Queer Fiesta", he says, "Yes, maintaining physical distancing, we are going live to organise these celebrations marking the stonewall riots which is also called as pride month across the globe. Queer and ally artists from different cities join our live and showcase their talent (dancing, singing, poetry, magic show, drag show, etc)."