Lucknow: Carrying stories of struggle, self-discovery and acceptance, queer individuals from across the city gathered for ‘Mah-e-Garv’ at Lucknow Bioscope on Sunday, marking Pride Month with an affirmation of solidarity.As performances ranging from music to literature set the tone for the evening, Sanjeev (25) took the stage in traditional ‘angarkha’ and ‘churidar’.The artist said he prefers to be known simply as a dancer.“Art has given me a voice and a sense of belonging. I am proudly a part of society,” he said before presenting a Durga Stuti.Similarly, using poetry as a medium, 19-year old Shikhar Maurya of Krishna Nagar shared ‘Pyar Ki Parakh’, a poem that describes love as a universal force connecting people across communities.Identifying himself as bisexual, he said he never felt sidelined because of who he was. “My talent became my anchor,” he added, noting that he now runs his own creative community.The programme also made room for conversations, as the open mic invited attendees to speak candidly about the realities navigating queer lives.Speakers reflected on rejection, invisibility and the burden of stereotypes, but also highlighted the collective responsibility to build a more compassionate society.These experiences found a poignant reflection in the screening of the movie ‘If You Know, You Know’, by Bonita Rajpurohit, where a transgender woman’s quest for recognition mirrored the hopes and aspirations shared throughout the gathering.“Through ‘Mah-e-Garv’, we hope to build a future where differences are embraced and no one feels left behind,” said curator Aisha Khatoon.
