Chennai: Sahodaran, an organisation that works for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender and queer) community, organised an event to celebrate Pride Month (June).The Pride month was celebrated through dance, theatre, songs, speeches, glitter and glamour.“To put it very simply, LGBTQ rights are human rights and nobody can argue that fact. Therefore, we will never stop fighting for this cause,” said Anne Dougherty, activist and representative of the US consulate (one of the organisers).
She was the chief guest at the event held to sensitize students about the struggles of the LGBTQ community and also clarify doubts that the students might have about the ‘how’ and ‘why’s of being homosexual, bisexual, asexual, transgender or queer.Father John Peter, who teaches at Mar Gregorious College, lent support to Dougherty and the LGBTQ cause.
Sudha, a transgender, said she is contesting in the upcoming R.K Nagar by-polls. Other members of the LGBTQ community said it gave them a great sense of pride to have her contesting. The LGBTQ community also urged the students to strive to repeal IPC 377 that criminalizes homosexual acts.
Selvam, who was born female but identifies as a male, said many members of LGBTQ kill themselves everyday because society refuses to accept them. “I have struggled to survive for the last ten years, but I know that the future could be different because it lay in the hands of students and the youth. You have to make the world better,” he said.
