March seeking social inclusion taken out at Manipal

March seeking social inclusion taken out at Manipal

Mangalore Today News Network

Manipal, Feb 08, 2017: The School of Communication in association with Namma Pride, Bangaluru Chapter, and CSMR (Coalition for Sex Workers,’ Sexual and Sexuality Minorities’ Rights), held a “Manipal Ally March” supporting the LGBTQ community here.

A media release here said that the agenda for the march included the repeal of Section 377 of the IPC and the implementation of inclusive language in all educational and professional institutions to incorporate those who did not identify themselves as male or female.

“This ally march is the first of its kind in Manipal. We stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ community in their struggle to achieve equal rights, something that our annual communication festival, Article 19, stands for,” said Shivani Singh, event coordinator.

LGBT activist, Romel, said that the most important thing for him was that it was an ally driven march. “This was something that came from the students themselves and they got permission from the management on their own. The fact that there was no queer group here before and they still managed to pull off a pride march is so motivating and inspiring,” he said.

The march also saw the launch of “Q&A: The Queer and Ally Network” Manipal’s first queer community.