‘I was scared to come, but then I saw others’: A long, emotional journey at Delhi’s Pride March

On the evening of May 31, a pride march was flagged off from the gates of The Lalit Hotel in Delhi.

For many who participants, it was more than a celebration – it was about claiming space, sometimes for the first time.

“I was scared to come here,” said Nawang, 30, who travelled alone from Darjeeling after seeing an event flyer on Instagram. “I didn’t know if I’d fit in. But when I saw others walking too, it gave me courage.”

For some, it was their first time being out in public. For others, it was a rare day of safety and affirmation. The short march was a much longer emotional journey.

There were hugs, selfies, flag-waving, and quiet moments. Some met friends they had only spoken to online. Others walked silently at the back, gathering courage for the next step, coming out to themselves or someone else.

That courage of simply showing up still defines Pride for much of queer India.

“Pride is a luxury where I come from,” said Rubiee, a trans college student from western Uttar Pradesh. “It’s amazing to see queer joy in such a public, polished space. We get to feel safe here.”

For queer people from smaller towns, working-class backgrounds, or conservative families, even attending...

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