Hyderabad: British Deputy High Commissioner hosts Pride Month celebration

Hyderabad, June 17 (IANS) The British Deputy High Commissioner for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Gareth Wynn Owen, along with his wife, Molly Wynn Owen, hosted a Pride Month celebration at their residence in Hyderabad, turning it into a space of solidarity and inclusion.

The event featured drag performances and multilingual musical sets, showcasing the diverse identities within the local LGBTQ+ community. Participants shared personal stories of harassment, humiliation and systemic injustices, underscoring the challenges faced by queer individuals in India.

By centring these narratives, Gareth Wynn Owen and Molly Wynn Owen highlighted their commitment to human rights and amplifying marginalised voices.

The Deputy High Commissioner said, “Every year in June is Pride Month. This is where we celebrate global diversity and equality for all people, regardless of gender and sexuality. Today, we have an event to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community here in Hyderabad. We have members of the community, and we also have members who are allies of the community.”

He added that presentations by a drag queen and a trans woman offered powerful insights into their lived experiences in India.

“It’s really important that every year across India, all the Deputy High Commissions celebrate Pride Month. It’s a very special moment, and I feel honoured to be hosting it in my house today,” he said.

LGBTQ+ activist Patruni Chidananda Sastry, who performed at the event, described Pride as a festival for the queer community. He said drag is an agile art form that teaches society without words, adding, “Drag creates queer joy, and queer joy is not only for queer people, but it’s for everyone else.”

The celebration in Hyderabad was part of a wider initiative by British missions across India to mark Pride Month, reinforcing the message of equality, respect and diversity.

–IANS

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