LGBT activist Harish Iyer on Tuesday announced he is joining the Congress party. “I have officially joined the Congress and look forward to working with the Mumbai Congress team in weeding out homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia and the politics of hate,” he announced on Twitter. Explaining his plunge into politics, Iyer said, “So, sometimes we cannot afford sitting on the fence. Sometimes, you need to take a plunge into things with people who are working against the intent of equality and stand against the very fabric of secularism that our nation is blessed with. We need to strive to protect it.”