Pride month | A history of Chennai’s Rainbow Pride march from 2009 to today

Experience the vibrant history and evolution of Chennai's Pride march, celebrating LGBTQIA+ rights and identities since 2009.

There are certain frames from Mohan Das Vadakara’s documentary Rainbow, which take us back to the sights and sounds of Chennai in 2009.

In the 21-minute film captured through a handheld camera, one sees a few hundred people congregating around noon by the Labour statue wearing shy smiles. They can be spotted carrying small rainbow flags and placards that read ‘Straight is a fine line’ and ‘I support LGBT rights’.

Soon, the shy smiles give way to slogans, song and dance. Those who do not want to reveal their identity wear ornate masks. There are bandhini dupattas and thigh-high shorts. The fashion is tres chic. There is rainbow-iridescence in the air.

This is Chennai’s first Pride parade, days before the decriminalisation of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

Three hours later, the march comes to an end at Gandhi statue. L Ramakrishnan from SAATHII, a public health NGO that has been part of Chennai Pride since inception, speaks to the camera as the film closes: “More people came than we hoped. This has been a success. Looks like we are going to do it again next year.”

Fifteen editions have passed since this first overt celebration of sexual and gender identities in the city. What has changed?

For starters, the promenade of Marina beach has altered drastically. The Pride march has travelled to the neighbouring Besant Nagar beach and has subsequently moved to Egmore’s Rajarathinam stadium. The few hundred participants have multiplied to become 5,000. A thousand more are expected to participate in the march this year on June 30, with drums and dance. The essence of the march, however, remains unchanged.