Thiruvananthapuram: The third edition of Manaveeyam Queer Fest, a curtain raiser to Kerala's pride march, falls in a year when the Supreme Court is hearing review petitions related to IPC 377.
Pushing the centre to decriminalise IPC 377 is, in fact, one of the main agendas of the fest, says Sreekutty Namitha, the chief patron of Oasis Cultural Society.
Oasis is the community-based organisation which conducts the fest. The Pride March will be held in Thrissur on August 16 and 17.
Ahead of that the fest will be on August 12, a few days after the Lok Sabha has passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill.
"The Supreme Court has made some observations indicating that IPC 377 needs to be reviewed and redefined. The verdict needs to come, and it should be implemented so that every person in the sexual and gender minorities is protected," says Sreemayi S L, Secretary, Oasis Cultural Society.
"Moreover the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha with amendments, but it has not covered some issues like adoption, reservation and marriage reservation. These are issues which need to be addressed."
However, the event comes at a time when almost all sexual and gender minorities rights activists observe welcome changes in what was largely a heteronormative society.
State transgender justice board member Surya Ishaan, who was the first transsexual person to get wedded to another transsexual person, says, "The society has definitely changed. Take my wedding for example. The good wishes continue to pour in from persons who do not belong to sexual and gender minorities. What gives greater hope is the fact that many in the younger generation have been offering us good wishes."
The nature of onlookers of pride marches has also changed, according to Sreemayi.
"Earlier they would be curious, but now when they see a pride march, they would know it is connected to the issues. They can identify the rainbow flag. There is greater awareness," she says.
Still, awareness among the public continues to be an objective of the fest, says Sreekutty.
"People have been asking various questions related to our identities. For example, even noted personalities have been asking what the difference between a transsexual person and a transgender person is. There should be more awareness. So there will be a meeting and a stall run by Social Justice Department for people to interact, on Sunday evening," she says.
