In December, India's Supreme Court upheld Section 377 of the constitution, a law which criminalizes sodomy.
Two months later, nearly 5,000 people gathered for the 7th annual Pride March in Mumbai – the biggest turnout in Mumbai's history.
The "Queer Azaadi March" ( Azaadi is Hindi for "freedom") was held on Sunday.
Every year, participants gather at August Kranti Maidan...
... and march to Chaupati, a public beach.
Harish Iyer, a prominent activist, stated, "[Section 377] takes away my right to dignity, my right to privacy – it makes me feel like a criminal in my own country."
"I am an Indian, queer and proud, and this is how I'm going to reflect that," stated one woman.
Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, a transgender rights activist, spoke to the crowd.
“Ideally, the march is about taking pride in what you are. But this year’s upsurge in numbers is a reflection of the community’s anger and hurt over being recriminalized,” said gay rights pioneer Ashok Row Kavi.
“If courts think they can brush us off and treat us like sub-humans they need to see how they have ended up giving the movement a shot in the arm instead."
"This movement will grow and succeed.”
Photographs provided by Artist At Work Productions were taken by Priyesha Nair, Megha Agarwal and Janhavi Asthana.
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