In a country where homosexuality is illegal, activists and supporters of gay rights took to the streets in the Indian cities of Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata last Sunday in possibly their largest march to demand they be treated as normal human beings.

Writer and activist Gautam Bhan said that "Queer Pride" is mainly a celebration, but also part protest.

"Queer Pride is about loving who we are, whether lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, ‘hijra’ or straight, and affirming everyone’s right to be respected for his or her own sexual choices," Bhan said.

"Considering how difficult things are here, it is always partly a protest and an awareness campaign."

Classified as "against the order of nature", homosexuality is illegal in India and is punishable by 10 years in prison. This is the first time a march of this nature and on this scale has been held.