
Awadh Queer Pride

The first Awadh Queer Pride Parade, was held on 9 April 2017, exactly 18 years after India's first Queer Pride Parade in Kolkata. It saw at least 300 people marching hand in hand, waving rainbow flags or wearing its colours. Many of them had come from as far away as Mumbai, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Jaipur. It was organised by Awadh Queer Pride Committee. 
The parade saw gatherings of hundreds of people, as they marched together in solidarity along the 1.5 km stretch from the Sikandarbagh crossing to the General Post Office Hazratganj. The streets were awash with colour and cheer as the procession was cheered on by local supporters. The Pride saw around 300 people, many pouring in from as far away as Mumbai, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Jaipur. Many allies and parents of LGBTQIA+ individuals were also present to offer support and solidarity.
Politics.
The last decade has seen a rise in the visibility of the lgbtqia+ community. The march was a huge victory for the lgbtia community since, Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh is known for its heritage and culture and hence is highly conscious of its society. Lucknow especially has a highly conservative community, and concerns were raised as to how the general people would react to the march.
Second Awadh Queer Pride Walk.
The second Pride Parade or ‘Walk for Equality’ in Lucknow took place on 11 February 2018. It was organised by the Awadh Queer Pride Committee and Davesh Singh Yadavendra was one of its key organizers. The march started from Rana Pratap Marg and concluded at the General Post Office in Hazratganj. In celebration of the second march the distance was increased from 1.5 km to 2.5 km. At its conclusion, people read out poems on justice and equality. The march witnessed the participation of people from across the country. People carried placards which said"-“Nawabi queers will crush the patriarchy”." It was a celebration of the 2017 Privacy Judgement for the community but also an attempt described by Davesh Singh to"-“raise voice again discrimination on the basis of gender, class, caste, religion, ability, race, tribe, ethnicity and sexual orientation”."