Midsumma Festival 2014: A celebration of queer culture

Being different doesn't mean being right or wrong; it simply means being different. And at the Midsumma Festival, Australia's premier gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (GLBTIQ) arts and cultural festival, 'different' is something to be celebrated.
The celebrations for New Year 2014 had not even begun to wrap up when Midsumma Carnival promised to take it a notch higher with its elements of fun, freedom and diversity as mercury soared high around mid-January.Consequently, the burning and simmering of Melbourne this summer was not just attributed to the escalating temperatures over 400 C, but it was also attributed to the heat wave created by Midsumma across Melbourne around the same time.
This year I was delighted to be a Telstra Citizen Reporter, a group of 30 blogging for Midsumma, spreading the word and sharing the joy. This festival annually celebrates the diversity in human life and the freedom to express that diversity in all forms that was motivating enough for me to embark upon my maiden journey towards exploring and experiencing the real meaning of queer culture and freedom.
Midsumma hosted a galore of events in categories like community, film, live music, performing arts, spoken words, sports and visual arts which authentically reflected upon the concept of diversity and liberty in most unique ways.
Here I was - a straight Indian migrant living and working in Australia, participating in the celebrations that is Midsumma. I couldn't have asked for a better diversity experience than this.
As a reporter what hit me hard was the absolute irony of my situation. On one hand I come from a country where gay sex has been declared a criminal offence by the Supreme Court and on the other hand, I am living in a country where diversity in every form is appreciated and celebrated. Gay marriages may still not be legal down under; however, one doesn't get legally branded just because they have a different sexual orientation. No matter what we think about the GLBTIQ community as a country, the fact is irrespective of the geographical boundaries; these people exist in India and are as much a part of this world as much the non-GLBTIQ community is. The Indian legal system can choose to shut its eyes towards them; however, they are not like a (bad) dream which will disappear as soon as we open our eyes.
My personal favourite event was the Pride March, which showcased the solidarity and commitment of Victorians towards the greater cause of the GLBTIQ inclusion. The day was a scorcher, reaching an incredible 41 degrees!
The Midsumma Festival has been a truly magnificent event. While Australia still has miles to traverse before it reaches the true status of equality for all, this festival was indeed a great way to tread on that path and provide a festive and celebratory mood for all. Being an active Midsumma reporter throughout this event has certainly made me feel like a contributor in this endeavour. It has also allowed me to reflect upon the idea of freedom and diversity; the idea that no matter how we choose to celebrate our sexuality - or our life - we should all have the right and freedom to express that.