Coimbatore: In a media briefing at the Coimbatore Press Club, Kalki Subramaniam, the Founder of Sahodari Foundation and a transgender activist announced that the first official Rainbow Pride March organised by the Sahodari Foundation will take place on August 24.
Coimbatore: In a media briefing at the Coimbatore Press Club, Kalki Subramaniam, the Founder of Sahodari Foundation and a transgender activist announced that the first official Rainbow Pride March organised by the Sahodari Foundation will take place on August 24.
Sahodari Foundation has been at the forefront of the queer movement in Coimbatore, and this year, the Coimbatore Rainbow Pride Festival is underway since July 25. As part of this month-long festival, panel discussions, art exhibitions and film screenings have been held in various places across the city.
Kaliki emphasized that the Pride March was not just to celebrate but to also educate people. Asexuals, bisexuals, transgender people from Kerala, Bangalore, Pondicherry and other districts are to participate in the pride march. She added that individuals who worked for the welfare of the transgender people will be honoured at the end of the rally.
"Everyone has the right to live, love, and show affection in this country. The love of transgender people, gays, lesbian, queer are being looked down upon. The Court has announced that it is not wrong to get attracted to the same gender, and this pride march is to explain those rights and take the demands to the Government," said Kalki Subramaniam.
Kalki Subramaniam noted that participants of the Pride March would be attired in seven colours, as well as carry flags and banners. "The society that blames us is the reason for our miseries, and parents are the reason behind transgenders turning into beggars. With no other choice left, transgenders get into prostitution and begging," lamented Kalki.
Kalki Subramaniam also expressed her displeasure of the recently passed Bill in the Lok Sabha regarding transgenders and said that they would be emphasizing to change the Bill during the Pride March. She said, "According to the Bill, if there is any sexual harassment on third genders, then the accused will have two punishments. But the maximum penalty for those who commit rape or abuse a woman should also be the same for sexual abuse on transgenders too. In the Pride March that was held a decade ago, only 10 participated but this time there is a lot of awareness on this and Coimbatore is setting an example," she added.
When questioned on the wrongs done by a few transgender people, Kalki noted that not all transgender people are wrong but because of a handful, the whole society is being blamed. She also added that according to the reports in the year 2015, there were 4,88,000 transgender people in India but the present figures were not available.
Stage performer transgender Prema, Coimbatore 1 Association member Arun Balakrishnan, Dr. Sahul Hammed, Angayarkanni the Rotary's Akruthi Women's Association President, Secretary Kavitha Gopalakrishnan and Project Manager Hema Purushothaman were also present during the media briefing.