Pride Walk
A pride walk is a public march by the LGBTIQ community, their families & friends. The word "pride" is used to indicate a stand against shame & stigma, and to celebrate self-acceptance. The event is held annually to ensure visibility, and help social acceptance. It combines joyful celebration, protests against discrimination, and demands for legal equality. Read more
Coming soon...
Pre-Pride Event 🎉
The magic starts on 6th June 🥳 with Dance, Music, Poetry & Open Mic 🎤
at CPR Auditorium, near Pune University Chowk – 5 pm to 9:30 pm.
To register your performance at the pre-pride event, click here .
Dec 2025 - PCMC's 7th LGBTIQ Pride Walk
Summary
Date: 21 December 2025
Time: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Location: Nr. PCMC Building, Pimpri, Pune
Organizer: Yutak LGBTQ Trust
Objectives
- Theme: Suicide prevention and mental‑health awareness for the queer community.
- The walk aimed to remind LGBTIQ individuals that they are not alone.
- To demand inclusive mental‑health resources from the state, highlighting the high risk of depression and suicide due to social exclusion and “conversion” pressures.
- Founder board member Zoya Shirole recited preamble of Indian Constitution and Mayur Patare felicitated all the guest and NGO representatives.
- Around 200 participants – including citizens, allies, and healthcare professionals – took part in the walk
- The walk followed a circular route starting at the PCMC Building, moving left to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Chowk, right to Finolex Chowk, then to Pimpri Morwadi road‑Samrat Chowk, Masukar Colony, a ‘U’ turn at MHADA Colony Gate, and back to the PCMC Building.
- The Grand Marshal was Mr. Viren Rajput adviser of Connecting Trust (suicide‑prevention NGO – link) and founder of ‘SAMTOL’ bipolar mood disorder support group.
- Partner NGOs such as BQRF, FPAIndia, Sweekar, Runanubandh, Connecting Trust and Rainbow Root joined the event.
Acknowledgments
- Permissions and support were granted by the DY CP Traffic department Pimpri Chinchwad Police, Sant Tukaram Nagar police station, and Pimpri police station.
- We are thankful to all our volunteers Suresh, Vinod, Madhurima, Harshada, Shruti, Shantanu, Bindumadhav, Amol, Nilesh Joshi sir, Mahesh, Mahadev, Shivanand, Yash, Ashish for lending helpful hands and making this pride successful.
June 2025 - Pune's 13th LGBTIQ Pride Walk
Summary
Date: Sunday, June 8, 2025
Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Abhinav Chowk, Bajirao Road, Pune
Organizers
Yutak LGBTQ Trust, in collaboration with Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, Government of Maharashtra, and District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Pune.
Objectives
Expressing Gratitude to Maharashtra Government: Participants enthusiastically lauded the Maharashtra Government for its landmark decision to establish the Maharashtra State Transgender Rights Protection and Welfare Board. This was a central theme throughout the march, with banners and slogans reflecting appreciation for this progressive policy.
Appreciating Pune Police: The proactive stance of the Pune City Police Commissioner and the force in tackling online fraud, extortion, and assault cases against gay men was a key message. Several participants shared personal accounts of feeling safer due to the police’s interventions, reinforcing the community’s gratitude.
Key highlights
- A senior official from the District Legal Services Authority Pune, Swapnil Kakde, spoke about the role of legal aid in protecting LGBTIQ rights.
- Co-Vice president Dr. Sanvi Jethawani of Transgender Welfare Board of Maharashtra and Protyush Borgohain led the march as Grand Marshals.
Participation
- 2000+ individuals, comprising members of the LGBTIQ community, their families, friends, students, activists, and representatives from various social organization like, Bindu Queer Rights Foundation, FPAI, Sweekar (a group of parents of LGBTIQ from Mumbai), CYDA, Runanubandha, Masum, Samyak, Vidula Psychology Consultancy, Andhashraddha NirmulaN Samiti, Bhkar Foundation, Ekankshya, Rainbow roots, Nurturing Minds etc.
- The atmosphere was celebratory and respectful, with participants carrying colourful banners, placards, and flags.
- Participants from Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, Thane, Ahmednagar, Nandurbar districts participated in the march.
- Corporate: Kohler, Capita, Eaton, Sargam, Icertis, Cummins, Deutch Bank, TIAA, Fujitsu, HSBC and Infosys joined the march with huge numbers.
Sponsors
Kohler India, Icertis, Bhalekar Farm, Connecting Trust, Marmajidnyasa and Samyak Trust Pune.
Event Details
- The event commenced at 4:30 PM with participants gathering at the designated starting point.
- Anil Ukarande, the organizer of the Pride Walk (and founder of Yutak LGBTQ Trust), welcomed the crowd and felicitated the honourable guests who were present for the walk. He briefly outlined the march’s objectives.
- After that the Grand Marshals paid respects to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule, Dr. Babasaheb Amdedkar, and R. D. Karve.
- Then the entire crowd recited the preamble of the Constitution in Hindi.
The Pride Walk started around 5:00 pm with the Grand Marshalls walking with the LGBTIQ flag.
Participants enthusiastically walked with rainbow flags and banners, and gave slogans, “Walk with Pride, No need to Hide”, “I am Gay, That’s OK”, “लक्षात ठेवा हे पक्का, ट्रान्स लोकांना कामाचा हक्क”, “नका करू दुजेपणा, पारलिंगीना आपले म्हणा”.
- Peaceful Procession: The 3-kilometer march proceeded smoothly through the designated route (Old Sarasbaug Bus Stop – Thorle Madhavrao Peshwe Path – Abhinav Chowk – Bajirao Road – Sarvajanik Kaka Chowk – Shaniwar Chowk – Shaniwar Mandai Road – Chhatrapati Shivaji Road – Khadak Mal Police Station – Mamledar Kacheri – Rashtra Bhushan Chowk – Hirabaug Chowk). Volunteers ensured that no political, religious, or divisive slogans were raised, maintaining the march’s core focus.
At the end of the route, the crowd sang “Hum Honge Kaam Yaab” collectively and the walk came to an end at around 6:30 PM.
The march concluded peacefully back at the starting point around 6:45 PM, followed by brief concluding remarks by Anil Ukarande, who thanked all participants, collaborating organizations, and the authorities for their support.
Acknowledgments
We are thankful to Swargate Police station, Vishrambaug Police station, Faraskhana Police station and Kahadak Police station, Pune Traffic police for providing police protection to ensure smooth march.
Dec 2024 - PCMC's 6th LGBTIQ Pride Walk
Summary
Date: December 22, 2024
- Location: Linear Garden, PCMC
Organizers
Yutak LGBTQ Trust, supported by Keshav Suri Foundation, The Lalit, and Bindu Queer Rights Foundation Pune.
Route
Started at Linear Garden, proceeding through Kokane Chowk, Wakad Bhosari BRT road, Shivar Garden Chowk, Jagtap Dairy Bridge U-turn, and concluded back at Linear Garden.
Objective
The Honourable Supreme Court, in its historic judgment of National Legal Services Authority vs. Union of India 2014, popularly known as NLSA judgement, ruled that transgender persons should be given reservations in education and employment. However, even after 10 years of this judgment, neither the central nor the state government has provided reservations to transgender persons in employment. Therefore, the main demand of this parade is that the Maharashtra state should provide 1% horizontal reservation for the transgender community.
Participation
Approximately 270 individuals from the LGBTIQ community and allies participated in the Pride Walk, representing various NGOs and organizations, including Bindu Queer Rights Foundation Pune, Runanubadh, Sweekar, Nakshatra Bagawe, CYDA, Shikhandi Trust, Jatan Foundation, Mukta charitable trust, safe stories
Grand Marshal
- Nikita Mukhyadal, a renowned transgender activist from Pimpri-Chinchwad, led the Pride Walk as the Grand Marshal. Nikita has made significant contributions to the community, including a landmark legal victory for the inclusion of the ‘Third Gender’ option in Maharashtra police recruitment.
- Co-Grand Marshal Reyansh Lohkare, a transman representative, led the pride walk.
Acknowledgments
- We extend our gratitude to the Commissioner of Police, Pimpri, and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bapu Bangar, Sangvi Police and Kalewadi police officers for their cooperation and support in granting police permission.
- Thanks to volunteers without whom the smooth functioning and management was not possible: Akshay Kshirsagar, Amol Shinde, Sachin Shinde, Bindumadhav Khire, Suresh Khole, Vinod Jadhav, Premanand s. Zoya Shirole, Madhurima Datar, Yash Bhalekar, Shashikant, Mahadev, Mahesh parkhe, Chetan Chavhan and Mayur Patare.