SHILLONG: A pride rally by members of the LGBTIQA+ community, who had gathered at Police Bazar to celebrate the Supreme Court's verdict decriminalizing consensual gay sex, was allegedly denied permission by the East Khasi Hills District administration on grounds of law and order. The rally was originally planned from Police Bazar at 4pm but after they were refused permission, the members of the community later shifted to Don Bosco Square in the city."Permission was denied because of the fluid law and order situation in the area. Also, the request for permission was received very late and it could not be granted," deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills district, PS Dkhar , said in his order.While talking to reporters, Dkhar said permission for the rally could not be granted as 'Dorbar Hima', a meeting of traditional grassroots organizations, was being held at the Polo Grounds on Friday. Therefore, the pride rally could have led to failure of law and order in the area, he added. The DC also said the decision was not influenced by pressure from any quarter.Activists and members of the LGBTIQA+ community, after being denied permission, shifted to the Don Bosco Square in the city, holding placards and banners to celebrate the landmark Supreme Court verdict. "We will take out a pride rally later," said Donna Marwein, an LGBT activist and member of Shamakami, an NGO that works for gay rights. "We are very relieved after the Supreme Court judgment. We have faced discrimination for a long time. Now we hope that people will start treating us as fellow human beings," Marwein added."Even in schools, we are bullied because of our identities. Now that the apex court has decriminalized consensual gay sex, schools should introduce topics in their curriculum to sensitize children on the issue," said another young member of the community who had come to celebrate the verdict.

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