New Delhi: Members of various rights groups, civil society activists and gay rights workers will hold a rally at Jantar Mantar on January 26 (Republic Day) at Jantar Mantar.
Lesbian rights activist Lesley Esteves in a mail to India TV clarified that it was not a gay protest by a cross movement protest by several marginalised communities including women's, labour, child rights, queer and many other movements.
The programme "We are The People, Reclaim our Republic" is an alternate parade of the people in contrast to the govt parade which excludes the people. It is not a gay protest alone, Esteves clarified.
As per the schedule, all participants will assemble at Barakhamba Road-Tolstoy Road Crossing and march towards Jantar Mantar at 2.30 pm, Lesley Esteves said.
Between 4 pm and 6 pm, several activists working for the rights of women, labourers, Dalits, children and other issues will participate in a programme named ‘We The People, Reclaim our Republic'.
“With the recent Supreme Court verdict which upheld Section 377 of the IPC, members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community are effectively being denied rights which are there in the Constitution,” Lesley said.
“We want to ask the government if we are part of the India's Republic which will be celebrated on Sunday. We also want that the government be made accountable for the protection of our rights as per the Constitution,” she said.
The Supreme Court last month, setting aside the 2009 Delhi High Court order, observed that Section 377 is a valid constitutional provision and criminalised homosexuality.
