KOZHIKODE: Sexual minorities celebrated their cultural festival 'Chamayam 2017' with full ecstasy forgetting all the differences they face in the society. The authorities had deployed a van full of police and a team of pink patrol after the public started creating nuisances for them. Organised by Punarjani Cultural Society in association with 'Snehatheeram', the neighbourhood group of transgenders under the corporation Kudumbasree CDS, more than 100 people from the community participated in the fete stressing on the need for them to overcome hurdles and join the mainstream.
The bus crew watches the cultural rally being taken out by the members of the transgender community as in Kozhikode on Monday.
Deputy commissioner of police Merin Joseph flagged off the cultural rally from the stadium premises to the main venue at Town Hall. Deputy mayor Meera Darshak inaugurated the festival, and mayor Thottathil Raveendran was the chief guest at the cultural meet. "The corporation has taken all the steps for the upliftment of the community, and the commencement of a Kudumbashree unit with transgenders as members is one such attempt. Skill training programmes will be implemented for the community members, as an occupation will help them lead a dignified life," the mayor said.
"More than showcasing our talents, it was a venue for us to walk freely without any fear in the city," said Aishwarya, a member of the community, who is working in a private firm here. "Even though people stared at us and misbehaved by passing nasty comments, we did not bother. Instead, we immersed ourselves in the joy and the ecstasy of meeting friends after a gap." Various programmes and talks were part of the cultural festival.
