Hyderabad: British Deputy High Commissioner hosts Pride Month celebration
Hyderabad, June 17
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
Reader Comments
Absolutely love this! 🌈 As someone from Hyderabad, it warms my heart to see the British Deputy High Commissioner using his official residence to create a safe space for our LGBTQ+ siblings. The drag performances and stories shared must have been so powerful. We need more allies like Gareth and Molly who amplify marginalised voices instead of silencing them. Proud of my city for hosting this!
This is all fine but why does a foreign diplomat need to champion LGBTQ+ rights in our country? We have our own culture and traditions. Our Parliament and courts should decide these matters, not foreign governments. I respect the community's right to exist but these events feel like Western interference in Indian social issues. We need to focus on our own economic problems first.
Great initiative! As a queer person from Hyderabad, I know how difficult it is to be open about our identities here. Seeing the British Deputy High Commissioner host this event gives us hope that change is possible. The stories of harassment and systemic injustices that were shared are very real for many of us. Thank you for creating a platform where our voices can be heard without fear. 👏
I appreciate the sentiment but cultural sensitivity matters. India has a complex history with LGBTQ+ issues - yes, we have ancient traditions that accepted diversity, but also modern complexities. Foreign diplomats hosting overt Pride events can sometimes backfire and create more resistance. Perhaps focusing on supporting local Indian LGBTQ+ organisations would be more effective than hosting Western-style celebrations.
Beautiful! This is what diplomacy should look like - using your position to uplift communities. The drag queen performances sound amazing and Pat
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.