Agartala, August 9:Agartala’s streets came alive with vibrant colours, music, and messages of inclusion on Saturday as the Tripura Queer Pride Walk 2025 took place for the third year, uniting voices in celebration and protest.
Organised by the local activist group Swabhiman, the march set off from Umakanta Academy School, weaving through key city streets.
Participants from the LGBTQIA+ community, along with allies, joined the walk, which began in September 2022 with the mission to break down prejudice, combat discrimination, and promote respect for all, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
Speaking to the media, Sneha Gupta Roy, who is the president of Swabhiman and member of Tripura Transgender Welfare Board, said that although awareness initiatives by the Social Welfare and Social Education Department have led to progress, the rights ensured under the Transgender Protection Act are yet to be fully implemented in Tripura.
“The Constitution grants every citizen equal rights, and that must include the LGBTQIA+ community,” she said, adding that greater public understanding is vital for changing attitudes and ensuring equality.
Roy further noted that societal acceptance of gender diversity is gradually increasing, and stressed that gender identity is a fundamental right granted to every individual by the Constitution.
Organisers highlighted that the Pride Walk is both a celebration of identity and a stand against the silence and invisibility many queer people still face in the state. “Love and equality are not up for negotiation,” one marcher declared.
With rainbow flags, placards, and lively music, the walk combined the spirit of festivity with a strong message of advocacy, pushing for legal safeguards, equal rights, and broader social acceptance. Pride walks, they said, are as much about joy and self-expression as they are about the ongoing fight for justice and inclusion.
