As drag performer Lush Monsoon took the stage, the song I Am What I Am filled the room at the British High Commissioner’s residence. Sporting colours of Pride, activists and diplomats gathered to celebrate the seventh anniversary of the decriminalisation of Section 377 of the IPC (now BNS) in India. Applauding the efforts of queer activists, Minister Counsellor Political at British High Commission, Becks Buckingham, said, “You are the ones who make historic changes possible, who keep pushing for more, who ask for equal rights and more importantly the right to live and love.”
L – Becks Buckingham (in green) with wife Mitch Mitchinson; R – Keshav Suri (on far right) with husband, Cyril Feuillebois
‘The diverse voices from the queer community give us hope’Addressing diversity and intersectionality, keynote speaker and activist Keshav Suri said, “I love the fact that we have such diverse voices from the intersections of the LGBTQ+ community. This room and these people give me hope.”
We’ve moved beyond that first sense of freedom and are now moving on to other rights that make life meaningful and full of dignity
Aishwarya Ayushmaan, aka Lush Monsoon, human rights lawyer and drag artiste
An activity board invited guests to choose the sticker that best captures their queer journey, from the words joyful, fierce, brave, healing and growing. Attendees, including the Belgian Ambassador Didier Vanderhasselt, also participated
L-R: Sumant Jayakrishnan and Ritu; Rohin Bhatt
Nishtha Nishant (L) and Akshay Tyagi (R)
