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Destinations Pride Month: These Indian Cities Are LGBTQ+ Friendly
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Pride Month: These Indian Cities Are LGBTQ+ Friendly

Indians are finally coming to terms with the fact that it's okay to love who you love. Here are some cities that prove it.

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By: Bayar Jain Published: Jun 06, 2022 02:17 PM IST

Pride Month: These Indian Cities Are LGBTQ+ Friendly
Image: Aamir M Khan / Shutterstock.com

In August 2018, India’s Supreme Court partially struck down the archaic and draconian Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. It was a new dawn for the LGBTQ+ community. The court said they could enjoy the same rights as enjoyed by any other citizen. It also noted that respect for individual choice is the essence of liberty. Indian society has changed its attitude towards homosexuality since then. We are finally coming to terms with the fact that it’s okay to love who you love. Here are some Indian cities that prove the same. By Bayar Jain

The LGBTQ+ Friendly Destinations India

Mumbai

 

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Considering the ‘City of Dreams’ is known to be a melting pot of cultures, this queer-friendly tag comes as no surprise. Despite the lack of exclusively gay bars and venues, the city is largely accepting of all kinds of sexualities. This pride-march loving city – where the same has been taking place annually since 2005 – hosts numerous queer meetups, bar and film nights, and cultural events like poetry slams, workshops, and comedy nights for the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, the city also hosts ‘The Mumbai Queer Film Festival’ to ascertain its friendliness!

New Delhi

 

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Home to many gay cafes, a men-only gay guesthouse, queer-friendly art gallery, and one of the largest pride parades in the country, New Delhi is constantly striving to welcome all kinds of people. Being the hub of all political discussions in the country and a bustling student-led activist community, the jostle to bring the LGBTQ+ community into the mainstream continues all year long. In fact, Delhi also has a spa specifically for gay men.

Goa

 

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This tourist-loving beach state has many gay-friendly guesthouses, hotels, and cafes to its name. Doubling as a destination ideal for party animals and quieter souls, Goa is often touted as one of the most queer-friendly destinations in the country. Although small in size, the magnanimous hearts of the locals compensate for this. The multiple gay bars and restaurants here are proof of it!

Bengaluru

 

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Being home to many global IT giants has helped the southern city open up to the LGBTQ+ community. Pride parades are a regular feature here, while gay spaces have started coming into the picture as well. Every year, the Alliance Française branch here organises the ‘Bangalore Queer Festival’, while bookstores organise slam poetry and oratory workshops regularly. One of the most popular events here is the Gender Bender festival organised by the Goethe-Institut where workshops, plays, and seminars revolving around creating awareness about the queer community are organised; as well as a drag queen night held regularly at Kitty Ko.

Kolkata

 

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Often touted as one of the most progressive and culturally-seeped cities in India, Kolkata doesn’t disappoint LGBTQ+ travellers either. Home to one of the oldest pride walks in the country (and in South Asia according to a few), this capital city is fairly accepting of its tourists. While same-sex check-ins at hotels are largely accepted here, queer-friendly organisations like Rainbow Club Kolkata, Pink Party Kolkata, and Sappho For Equality further help bring this marginalised sect of society to the fore. Amra Odbhuth, a gay-friendly cafe here, even brings together queer and trans voices under one roof to perform, celebrate identities, and share the love.

Pune

Being the cosmopolitan and young city that it is, Pune is one of the most queer-friendly and inclusive city in India. The city invites thousands of students every year from all corners of India, who come here to pursue their education or start their professional lives in the many colleges and IT companies that Pune is home to. It shouldn’t come as a surprise then, that Pune is an amazing city for loving whoever you wish to love.

Chennai

 

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That Chennai is an LGBTQ+-friendly destination city in India can be gauged from the fact that the Tamil Nadu capital hosted an event that brought together employers, employees, and activists to discuss the challenges faced by the queer community at their workplaces. The Madras High Court in 2021 ordered the state government to punish cops who harass the LGBTQ+ community. The city has over 15 support groups.

Related: Here’s An All-Inclusive Plan For LGBTQ Travellers Venturing Around The World

Written By

Bayar Jain

Bayar Jain

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