Chennai will begin India’s pride season this year with its parade planned for the 27th of June at Marina beach (date/venue might change). Before even the plans have finalized, Hindu Munnani Katchi, a Tamil Hindu group has threatened to protest at the parade against alternative sexuality.

Hindu Munnani Katchi (HMK) was in the spotlight for protesting against Kushboo’s remark that Tamil guys should not expect Tamil girls to be virgins before marriage. Now HMK, probably along with its splinter group Hindu Makkal Katchi, is up in arms against homosexuals and transsexuals. They seem to be against anything to do with sex – straight or gay. Boy, their life must be dull!

An open event by Chennai’s Pride organizers a few days back was disturbed by HMK activists protesting and spreading hate. Ironically, a protester began his tirade with “Anbe Shivam”. He was rightly rebuked by the organizers for speaking without any anbu (affection in Tamil) or shivam (kindness, graciousness in Sanskrit).

This is only the second year Chennai will be having a pride parade. Last year was quite a success with a few hundred people marching down Marina beach. And as with all other pride parades in Indian cities, it was favourably and widely covered by the media. The media coverage has irked HMK which has already approached the media with its plans to protest at this year’s parade.

With 10 days to go for the parade and the organizers not wanting any confrontations, the drama remains to unfold.

Details of Chennai Pride 2010.

Are you planning to march at the Chennai parade? How should the organizers/marchers handle the protesters? Let us know your views below.

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