Etienne Mbappe on Stage

At Blue Frog...Afro jazz...from Cameroon via France. Fantastic.
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After Decriminalization, A Gay Pride March in Mumbai

Image: A sign painting workshop, in preparation for Mumbai's Queer Azaadi March, today.

While much of the world celebrated Gay Pride in June, Mumbai waited. The Queer Azaadi March (”azaadi” means freedom), in fact, is this Sunday, a day after the 62nd anniversary of India’s independence. The implicit association: the freedom of sexual orientation and the country’s freedom from the clutch of colonialism.

Nearly 2,000 lesbian, gay, bi- and transsexual citizens and human rights advocates are expected to gather on the August Kranti Maidan in South Mumbai. There is much to celebrate: last month the New Delhi High Court repealed Section 377 of India’s penal code, which criminalized homosexuality. However, the decision is currently being challenged, which makes the March even more important to the LGBT community.

Only the second “pride” march in Mumbai, the act of being “out” is still a statement here...

Read the rest of the post on the New York Times blog, Globespotters.