Puducherry’s first Self-Respect Pride March saw a colourful turnout, from LGBTQIA+ community members from across the city on Sunday.

The participants holding placards took out a rally and raised slogans that called for inclusivity, intersectionality, dignity, and personal rights of LGBTQIA+.

Organised by Sahodaran, a community development centre for transpersons and LGBTQIA+, the rally began from the Swadeshi cotton mills and culminated at the Alliance Francaise de Pondicherry.

The participants demanded that welfare schemes provided by the Puducherry Government to trans women should also be extended to trans men and intersex persons. Establishment of a welfare board for transgenders and issue of free house-site pattas to members and free travel on government buses were among the other demands.