Hyderabad: More than just a Pride Month gathering, Interfaith Pride Fest 2026 in Madhapur brought people together for conversations on faith, caste, accessibility, gender, and queer identities. Organised by Rubaroo and Dragvanti, the event featured discussions, storytelling, performances, and reflections on identity and inclusion..One of the artists, Aeina (They/Them) who is also a classical Kathak dancer explained, “There are many queer stories within faith traditions that have been forgotten over time. Today is about understanding those stories again.”One of the key discussions of the evening, ‘Faith Across Caste’, explored how religion and caste shape social exclusion. During the session, speaker Deepti said many young people now view religion negatively.“My children are growing up seeing only the negative side of religion because there is more exclusivity and exclusion than inclusion these days,” Deepti said.She argued that discussions on caste and religion are ultimately about challenging unequal systems of power and privilege.“When we talk about dismantling caste and religion, we are also talking about dismantling power, privilege, access and hierarchy. The goal is to create a society that is more inclusive and fair for everyone,” she said.The event also highlighted the experiences of persons with disabilities. During a discussion on accessibility, speaker Priya, who suffers from Achondroplasia, said, “Accessibility is the most talked about thing because there is no accessibility anywhere. I keep thinking about how to reach spaces which are not accessible.”Another major theme of the festival was the importance of community and solidarity.Phoenix, a non-binary activist working at the intersection of queer rights, mental health, sexual health, and human rights, reflected on the role of collective support. “We have always collectively had fun, cried, shared food together, and supported one another. That is the only way forward, being together as a community,” they said.Marking Pride Month, Aeina also shared a message for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. “Do not be afraid of being yourself. The world is different, and you are also different, and being different is a part of nature. Start to accept yourself and respect everyone,” they said.
