Re: g_b THE RAINBOWFESTIVAL 2005 : Kolkata Gay Pride
Okay girls...get your butts and/or bucks down to Kolkata/Calcutta.. See you there.. Elizabeth [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: From: integration society [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Sat Jun 11, 2005 7:01 pm Subject: THE RAINBOWFESTIVAL 2005 : Kolkata Gay Pride looks for your support integrations... T H E R A I N B O W F E S T I V A L 24th to 26th JUNE 2005 KOLKATA, INDIA Commemorating Stonewall Riots Day, June 1969 The beginning of the Gay Liberation Movement II II\ IIIA venture by INTEGRATION Society, Kolkata, India Dear Friends, Here's wishing all of you success and joy, encompassed in the vibrant colors of the Rainbow! Colors connote the Rainbow, which affords all of us happiness and joy; where we are different and yet together. About INTEGRATION Society . . . INTEGRATION Society, Kolkata has been working as a Communication Initiative on Health and Human Rights for the Youth and Sexual Minorities since 1999, it has taken up quite a few events that have given the issues of alternative sexuality quite a public visibility. Especially, The Rainbow Festival, the only Gay Pride of India happening in Kolkata since 1999, has made a remarkable space in the media and among the public. Visibility being the prime objective INTEGRATION Society picks up events that are not only media sensational but also with strong voices and recommendations. From audio play to short film, from poster presentation to art and craft exhibition all had been executed by INTEGRATION Society, Kolkata since the beginning of its journey. About THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL . . . Among all the activities what Integration Society has earned a space for in India, is organizing THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL, the most impact-making event concerning people with alternative sexual orientation and gender Identity. This is to commemorate the Stonewall Riots Day, June 26, 1969, the red lettered day in the history of the social movement of gay liberation. Today, in India, with a different set of developmental and rights issues to grapple with, more than 100 groups, over last few decades have been showing admirable and encouraging efforts in running the socio-political movement of people with alternative sexuality and gender identity towards achieving a healthy and safe lifestyle and space. But it is still not enough to do away with all kinds of discrimination, stigma, taboo and harassment that GLBT people face in this country. Not enough to ensure equal space and dignity for every individual irrespective of their class, cast, language, religion, sexual preferences and so on. How we Celebrate THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL . . . INTEGRATION Society as an initiator organizing this Pride walk since 1999 in Kolkata. A great concept coming from Mr. Owais Khan in 1999 naming it as 'FRIENDSHIP WALK' has gradually evolved in to a festival and became popular as 'THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL', has achieved an increasing popularity over these years. By 2004, the city had seen the greater gathering around the Rainbow Festival and felt the presence of GLBT communities throughout India raising a chorus for their rights To Love And To Be Loved. Organisiations Like Companions On A Journey from Shrilanka, Naz Foundation from Delhi, Fellowship From Orissa, Amtie, Bandhan, DMSC, PLUS, Prataya, SAATHII, Swikriti from Kolkata and so many individuals from various parts of the world coming together we were about 300 friends that matched steps with each other and sang chorus for equality and dignity. For the cultural events mainstream performing art groups like Sapphire Creations, OnStage, X-Pose and quite a few talented individuals with their solo performances have expressed support and solidarity to this greater cause in different years. The last time was remarkable not only in terms of the number of participants, also looking at the variety, including some lesbian friends showing up for the first time, it gained a real feeling of togetherness. The mainstream, the women groups, other developmental initiatives, Kolkata Police and the media increasingly have come around supporting this mega event. Needless to mention that it is always YOUR contribution that brought all the success to THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL. In a country like India, in a society like ours, sexuality still being dumped under the carpet, YOU, from that very society standing up beside us is undoubtedly deserve a great salute. This year, the effort is to increase the periphery of partners in this venture by encouraging more organisations and individuals, be them community, be them mainstream to match steps with us and share the joy and happiness of being together. The idea is to create a stage to embrace and celebrate diverse, disjointed and different sexualities where you can meet, interact, speak, explore, discover your true self and
Re: g_b THE RAINBOWFESTIVAL 2005 : Kolkata Gay Pride
support from gay amsterdam, think of you, wish you an understanding calcutta, india keep the flag high, kris gaybombay [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: courtesy gb == From: integration society Date: Sat Jun 11, 2005 7:01 pm Subject: THE RAINBOWFESTIVAL 2005 : Kolkata Gay Pride looks for your support integrations... T H E R A I N B O W F E S T I V A L 24th to 26th JUNE 2005 KOLKATA, INDIA Commemorating Stonewall Riots Day, June 1969 The beginning of the Gay Liberation Movement \ IIIA venture by INTEGRATION Society, Kolkata, India Dear Friends, Here's wishing all of you success and joy, encompassed in the vibrant colors of the Rainbow! Colors connote the Rainbow, which affords all of us happiness and joy; where we are different and yet together. About INTEGRATION Society . . . INTEGRATION Society, Kolkata has been working as a Communication Initiative on Health and Human Rights for the Youth and Sexual Minorities since 1999, it has taken up quite a few events that have given the issues of alternative sexuality quite a public visibility. Especially, The Rainbow Festival, the only Gay Pride of India happening in Kolkata since 1999, has made a remarkable space in the media and among the public. Visibility being the prime objective INTEGRATION Society picks up events that are not only media sensational but also with strong voices and recommendations. From audio play to short film, from poster presentation to art and craft exhibition all had been executed by INTEGRATION Society, Kolkata since the beginning of its journey. About THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL . . . Among all the activities what Integration Society has earned a space for in India, is organizing THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL, the most impact-making event concerning people with alternative sexual orientation and gender Identity. This is to commemorate the Stonewall Riots Day, June 26, 1969, the red lettered day in the history of the social movement of gay liberation. Today, in India, with a different set of developmental and rights issues to grapple with, more than 100 groups, over last few decades have been showing admirable and encouraging efforts in running the socio-political movement of people with alternative sexuality and gender identity towards achieving a healthy and safe lifestyle and space. But it is still not enough to do away with all kinds of discrimination, stigma, taboo and harassment that GLBT people face in this country. Not enough to ensure equal space and dignity for every individual irrespective of their class, cast, language, religion, sexual preferences and so on. How we Celebrate THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL . . . INTEGRATION Society as an initiator organizing this Pride walk since 1999 in Kolkata. A great concept coming from Mr. Owais Khan in 1999 naming it as 'FRIENDSHIP WALK' has gradually evolved in to a festival and became popular as 'THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL', has achieved an increasing popularity over these years. By 2004, the city had seen the greater gathering around the Rainbow Festival and felt the presence of GLBT communities throughout India raising a chorus for their rights To Love And To Be Loved. Organisiations Like Companions On A Journey from Shrilanka, Naz Foundation from Delhi, Fellowship From Orissa, Amtie, Bandhan, DMSC, PLUS, Prataya, SAATHII, Swikriti from Kolkata and so many individuals from various parts of the world coming together we were about 300 friends that matched steps with each other and sang chorus for equality and dignity. For the cultural events mainstream performing art groups like Sapphire Creations, OnStage, X-Pose and quite a few talented individuals with their solo performances have expressed support and solidarity to this greater cause in different years. The last time was remarkable not only in terms of the number of participants, also looking at the variety, including some lesbian friends showing up for the first time, it gained a real feeling of togetherness. The mainstream, the women groups, other developmental initiatives, Kolkata Police and the media increasingly have come around supporting this mega event. Needless to mention that it is always YOUR contribution that brought all the success to THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL. In a country like India, in a society like ours, sexuality still being dumped under the carpet, YOU, from that very society standing up beside us is undoubtedly deserve a great salute. This year, the effort is to increase the periphery of partners in this venture by encouraging more organisations and individuals, be them community, be them mainstream to match steps with us and share the joy and happiness of being together. The idea is to create a stage to embrace and celebrate diverse, disjointed and different sexualities where you can meet, interact, speak, explore, discover your true self and breathe life without the constraints of morality, tradition, rationality
