Gays and Lesbians Protest Exclusion From India Day Parade

New York, NY —

The Bollywood and bhangra dancers were out in full force at the India Day parade yesterday, but so were protesters opposing the exclusion of gays and lesbians.

The South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association says parade organizers would not acknowledge their application to march alongside other Indian groups. Mario D'Penha led a group of about 20 protesters in chants. He says the organizers are behind the times.

D'PENHA: I don't think the community is homophobic. I don't think the community's discriminatory. But it's the five or six people on this board who think it's okay to be discriminatory and it's okay to be homophobic.

REPORTER: A member of the Federation of Indian Associations, which organizes the parade, says SALGA's application was never received. The India Day parade marks India's independence from Britain, in 1947.