The joy and beauty of Rainbow Pride

Gay rights have been all over the news recently, from Pride parades in Gurgaon, Chennai, London and Columbia to Indian celebrity chef Ritu Dalmia, hotelier Aman Nath and dancer NS Johar raising a petition with the Supreme Court to quash section 377 of the Indian Penal Code that criminalises homosexuality.

"Despite their achievements and contributions to India in various fields, they are being denied the right to sexuality, the most basic and inherent of fundamental rights. Section 377 renders them criminals in their own country," the plea says.

The gay men and women in our lives, our talented friends, are ruling the fashion industry and sharing their impeccable taste.

Those Tom Ford shoes you walk in were created by the designer who has been with his partner Richard Buckley since 1986; the Alexander McQueen clutch you’ve been eyeing was envisioned by the designer who married documentary filmmaker George Forsyth in 2000. And the Michael Kors bag you carry? Yes, he married his gay partner in 2011.

Other hugely famous gay designers include Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Yves Saint Laurent, Gianni Versace, Valentino — the list is as long as the glamourous runway.

Some of the most talented Indian designers are equally proud about their sexuality, including couturier Suneet Varma who said in an interview with a leading fashion magazine on his marriage to the handsome Rahul Arora, "For us, we’re just living our lives, we haven’t done anything brave. I married my lover, that’s all."

Their creative visions have brought beauty to our wardrobes and our bodies, and their conviction to truth has transcended the confines of narrow thinking. Why stay in the closet when there is so much to express?

The first thing to learn from the Rainbow Pride movement is the unabashed celebration of the self. Being in love with yourself is truly the greatest gift you can give to yourself and others, because it is the first step to happiness that is infectious.

Take pride in who you are, where you come from, your circumstances and what you have overcome. Rejoice in your body and its curves, your sexuality and your passions because that is what makes you, you.

Next is to celebrate the truth. You cannot hide behind expectations or shame, because these are socially imposed and they have nothing to do with what you consider correct for yourself. Do not hide behind pretentions or lies, designer labels or invasive surgeries.

Whether you’re young and want to glam it up, or are getting older with wrinkles and laugh lines, everything is in the right scheme of things. No designer brand can give you the satisfaction of expressing yourself completely, according to what you want and yearn for.

The third thing to appreciate is the determination to carry on and seek victory. As any friend from the LGBT community will tell you, growing up "different" from the "norm" comes with its issues. No matter what the situation, the will to continue with passion and the head held high is a gift of life and must be used to one’s advantage.

People’s lack of understanding is no reason not to excel, and as numerous examples will show, members of the LGBT community are thriving and how. Just like any other ambition, making it to the top requires focus and the right attitude, and courage in the face of setbacks is truly admirable.

The last and greatest lesson is the appreciation of beauty — in clothes or décor, but most importantly in human beings. Look for beauty in everything and heighten your senses to get the best out of life. Keep your thoughts refined like a couturier’s vision for the runway and strive for perfection in yourself and your work.

You cannot create something new or be the best at what you do if you stay stuck in an old way of thinking. Open your horizons and search for goodness, and you will be rewarded with gifts far greater than you have ever known.

There is much to be learnt from the Rainbow, and really, a lot more to respect.

(Courtesy of Mail Today.)