The fate of Section 377 is yet to be known, but the queer community in the city have a reason to cheer. With institutes in the city making sustained efforts to become more 'inclusive spaces' and supporting LGBTQ clubs, August will see the return of the LGBTQ conclave at IIM Ahmedabad.

What do the parents experience when a child comes out as queer in India or how is the experience of living as a queer person in rural India different from the urban experience? These and many such themes will be dealt with in the upcoming second edition of the LGBTQ conclave that is slated to be held at premier B-school IIM Ahmedabad on August 11, 12 and which will be hosted by the institute's student interest group 'IIM Ally'. What started as an informal support group in 2015, today has close to 30 students including those hailing from PGP batches, foreign exchange students and FPM scholars.

While the first day of the conclave will be exclusive to the IIMA community and to students of 'A- league' -- an inter-institutional initiative having members representing top city-based institutes like IIMA, IIT Gandhinagar, DA-IICT, NID, EDI, NIRMA and few GTU colleges, the second day will be open for all. Day two of the LGBTQ conclave is slated to witness a series of talks and discussions on the likely themes of parents of LGBTQ children and the 'rural perspective' of being queer in India.

On 11th August, the club has planned an 'Inclusion walk' throughout the IIMA campus. Members of various other clubs of the institute like Women's Society, Equal Opportunities Student Committee and people from the IIMA community will participate to bat for equality, diversity and inclusivity. The second day will have film screenings and discussions with renowned personalities like film director Chitra Palekar, member of Mumbai based 'Sweekar: The Rainbow Parents', an LGBTQ support group for parents, and activist-researcher Maya Indira Ganesh who has worked in gender and sexuality rights among others.

IIM Ally is also in talks with Vadodara-based grassroots organisation Vikalp Women's group which works for women and trans women in rural areas. "Palekar will be speaking about the challenges of being a parent of a queer child and also in context of present scenario what with the case against Section 377 being heard in the SC," said Sanjukta Chakraborty, Coordinator of IIM Ally.

IIMA alumnus Anoop Kumar Yadav said, "Such an event helped start a conversation on the community and its issues. Previous events also brought in a lot of support for the community. When the first such event was organised, it was empowering for a lot of people who attended it. Many educational institutes in the country also followed suit to help organise such events."

"When the first event was held, it was empowering for alot of people who attended it. Many educational institutes in the country also followed suit to help organise such events" - Anoop Kumar, IIMA alumnus