Rain did not water down the 'Rainbow Rendezvous' of people of the LGBTIQA+ community to mark the end of Pride month in Pune on Friday. Amidst a splash of colours, upbeat music and cheesy sandwiches, two generations of queer, trans and straight people shared their experience, curiosities, struggles and victories at Mauji Cafe in Bhosale Nagar. "I am not out to my parents and my college is not at all an open space in matters of gender and sexuality," said Arohi, an engineering student from a government college. “Gay, lesbian or bisexual and pansexual people can still hide it sometimes but for us even getting basic rights is difficult," said Sonali Dalvi, a Pune-based transgender woman activist. "People do not want to rent us homes. It is difficult to get education, jobs, marriage or children." Her eyes rested on the art corner where people were lined up to paint flags, flowers and star tattoos on each other. "I want a pride flag on my cheek!" Dalvi exclaimed and headed to the painting and make-up stall. "Some people think it is just a fad and will pass," said Riddhima Deshpande who studies mass media. "Once when a group of us were walking in the city, holding pride flags and visibly queer, random people started heckling us," she said. With rain as background music, Riddhima and Pranav performed some music for the gathering. Food was brought in and made way for further conversations. "We need to spread this movement further, especially into the rural areas so that people do not think it is just an urban phenomenon," said Anil Ukarande, the founder of Yutak Charitable Trust which works with the LGBTQIA+ community in Pimpri Chinchwad. Dalvi shared the successful efforts of her organisation among others which managed to secure jobs for 25 transgender people as security guards with the Pune Municipal Corporation. "It is important to introduce sex education in schools which is sensitive to issues of sexuality and people of different identities," said Syna Dhoka, a 20-year-old. "I think straight people should learn more about these issues."
