Pride Month: This Delhi Photographer Is Giving Wedding Photoshoots To LGBTQ Couples For Free
Across the world, June is being marked as pride month, where sexual minorities including lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, queers, and more, get a chance to celebrate their true selves in a society that is somewhat reluctant to accept them as 'normal'.
In India too, despite same-sex relations being decriminalised, they are still frowned upon by a large section of the society.
Even after same-sex relations were decriminalised in India, they can't legally get married or adopt a child.
This has, however, not stopped many LGBTQ couples from getting married 'unofficially' in private ceremonies.
Free wedding photoshoots to support LGBTQ couples
Sumit Verma, a Delhi-based events photographer is trying to do his bit to encourage and support LGBTQ couples who are coming forward to break the taboo.
Verma, the founder of LensFlix, is offering free wedding photoshoots for same-sex couples who are getting married in Delhi and NCR.
"I always wanted to do something for the LGBTQ community. It was a dream that I had in my mind for the past 2-3 years. But due to COVID-19 and lockdown it did not happen. So this year, we made sure that it will happen, even my crew agreed to do the shoot for free. We made the announcement as part of Pride Month," Verma told?Indiatimes.
Verma who is a photographer and cinematographer with nearly a decade of experience in covering weddings and other events said this was his way of encouraging more couples to come out and celebrate who they really are.
Social attituded about LGBTQ couples need to change
"I have noticed that people in Delhi are still not quite open about it. I have seen people in South and even in Mumbai who are more welcoming and open about sexual identities. I wanted to give them a chance enjoy their big day," Verma said.
He, however, admitted that it was not easy to convince many who were in a relationship, but had not opened up about their sexual orientation to their families.
"When I had this idea, I posted across LGBTQ forums on different social media platforms saying that we will do free photoshoots for them. We got a few responses, but many are still apprehensive about how their families would react. But I tell them that the photo shoot will be done at their convenience, within the boundaries that they want to maintain, including public display affection, only if they are comfortable with it," he said.
First shoot - interfaith gay couple
The first photoshoot Verma and his crew did was a pre-wedding, of an interfaith gay couple, which was shot in Delhi's Hauz Khas village recently.
"The first shoot we did was a gay couple. One of them had not even revealed to his family that he is gay. When I made the offer to do a photoshoot, I told them that their identities will not be revealed from our side if they are not comfortable. But they themselves broke the news on social media and posted the pictures. I feel that it was an achievement for me," he said.
People poke their nose into the happy moment of an LGBTQ couple
While the couple had no issues shooting in public, some strangers who just happened to see it did not share the same enthusiasm.
"There was a lot of staring, and some people even interrupted the shoot questioning what was going on and saying things like 'this is wrong'. This was when they were just holding hands and nothing else. I shut them down saying there is nothing wrong and what we are doing is absolutely legal," he said.
Photography for a cause
Verma said this is the discrimination should end, and hopes that what he is doing now could play at least a small role in it.
"I believe that love is love and it doesn't have to be judged. Even now most of the couples who come out are high-profile people, from open-minded families. I want this to change and for everyone who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender to come out, without the fear of being judged. The best I can do for this is through my art - that is photography. That is why I chose to do this," Verma said.
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