Activist talks to students about pride month, rights

LUCKNOW: From why we celebrate June as ‘pride month’ to what it is like being queer in India, activist Ritwik had a hearty chat with students on Monday.
The activist shared how every movement, be it queer or feminist, is interconnected as the fight is for collective rights and not for the right of an individual or community.
In an online session with students of Lucknow University on ‘queer politics in India: history and challenges’ organized by All India Students’ Association, Ritwik said, “People say don’t indulge in queer politics; let queer remain apolitical.I want to make it clear to them that queer movement was political as it was a ‘Jan Andolan’ in which voice was raised against injustice.”
Ritwik added that the movement began on June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village neighbourhood of Manhattan, New York. Police had raided Stonewall Inn, a gay bar. Its patrons and those of other lesbian and gay bars had fought back when police became violent. Little did the police know that their actions would spark a movement that will reshape the lives of generations to come.”
The activist said that queer people are still struggling for their rights.
“The given constitutional rights still don’t empower us to chose gender on our own. It is decided by a third person or a committee,” said Ritwik.