More than 100 LGBT people and their allies danced and walked through the streets of Surat in the state of Gujarat, India, in celebration of Gujarat’s first Pride, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Parade organizers say it took a long time to obtain permission to stage the event.
In a video report, BBC reporter Neha Bhatnagar says the participants, including employees of multinational corporations, graduate students and TV actors, walked under police protection, covering a two-kilometre route.
Just last month, India saw the launch of what is being hailed as the first-ever LGBT radio station, aimed at creating “awareness and acceptance of alternate sexualities.”
The programming and operations manager of Qradio, an online station meant to bring the LGBT community and its issues into the mainstream, has said the focus of the content will be on documentaries, Pink News reports. Programming is now in English and Hindi, with plans in the works to introduce other regional languages, the report says.