“It was a big victory, I think community members need to stand up to these things and there is support available.”
On October 11, a member of the LGBT community in Mumbai, Divyaroop Ananda, attended an event at The Hive, in Khar.
Via facebook.com
During a break between talks, Divyaroop and his friend Vinay stepped out to get a cigarette, and while walking back to the venue, they were assaulted by six people at around 3 p.m.
Divyaroop told Buzzfeed, "There were a few people standing around, young guys, around 25 years old. I had blond hair at that time, I was wearing make-up and my black leggings. They saw me and Vinay, and by my look it was pretty obvious, that I was gay. They passed lewd comments, but I ignored them because I personally don't like to pick fights".
"There was this one guy on the opposite side of the road. Suddenly, he crossed the road, and he stood extremely close to my face, and was smelling of beer. He then started touching my private area, and I was stunned."
"By the time I realised what was happening, I heard other people screaming and before I knew it my hair was being pulled, I was being beaten, they were kicking me in my crotch. They abused me in Hindi, and hit me with sticks on my back. I tried to defend myself, but there were six of them."
After some time, a lady and two other guys from the nearby area (pictured above) came and tried to break the fight apart, ushering Divyaroop to the other side of the road.
"Vinay tried to go and get help, and bring people from The Hive. But by the time they arrived, the men had dispersed," he said.
BuzzFeed India
After the incident, Divyaroop was advised to not report the incident as nothing would come of it.
But Divyaroop didn't back down.
"I'm an activist, I fight for what I believe in. But I will not give up so easily, and this time something drastic had happened to me personally," Divyaroop said.
Via facebook.com