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In the minds of the public, there are certain myths and doubts on Transgender women. The recent news on in Tamilnadu about transgenders 'compelling a boy and making him a woman' could damage the empowerment and acceptance of transgenders in the mainstream society. While none of the NGOs working for the transgenders voiced about this issue, Sahodari decided to hold a public event in its own way and tell the world who we are and clear their doubts.
On April 19th, at around 5:30 pm at the parking street at Marina beach adjacent to Mahatma Gandhi statue, we held an open public gathering of philanthropists, students, poets and social workers and created a space where they could show their support to Transgender women.
The event was named as 'Thirunangaikal Mathippukkuriyavarkal'– meaning 'Transwomen, the Respectables'. A hunt for dignity. An event to create awareness among the public about our struggles and gain their understanding and support. Please click on the pictures for a larger view.
More pictures here..-
The event started with an introduction speech by me, followed by a play named ‘Adaiyaalam’ (Scars). This play was written by me. It was a two act play. I played the transgender person and Srijith, a theatre person and friend played the common man. Just two characters. Adaiyaalam’ is a transgender woman's cry against stigma and discrimination. It is a 20 minutes play. The public began to gather in large numbers and I was energized.
The play started with the folk music instrument Thudumpu by Chittira Senan, a talented artist in the instrument. I think I did a good performance. Srijith was very audible to the crowd but I was not. I could not raise my voice and I think that was a setback. His performance was good though he did miss a few lines from the dialogues and I had to patch them up with additional lines on the spot. I believe I did a very neat job.
One of the dialogues in the play was 'When Indira Gandhi was assassinated by one Sikh man, many Sikhs were killed and punished after the incident. I am not trying to prove who did the mistake. But, if one transgender commits a crime' it does not mean that all transgenders will do the same and be criminals. Transgender women are an invisible minority. They need protection’.
The audience who were in large numbers were very attentive. The police and the press were very friendly too. The play was followed by poetry readings. Students from different colleges read beautiful poems on the struggles of Transgenders. They showed their support and understanding. Reporters from leading Tamil and English dailies had come to cover the event. There was Makkal TV too, which really has been quite sensitive and supportive to our struggles. This television had carried many sensible programs on the issues of minorities.
All along the play and poetry reading, we had simultaneously begun the signature campaign. Monal and Olga were taking care of that. They spread the white sheet cloth on the side of the street. In the sheets were statements in Tamil and English 'We will treat transgenders with dignity. We will treat them as equals'. Many men, women and even the children wanted to sign on the sheets. Within an hour, the sheets were filled with umpteenth signatures.
Transgender sisters from many parts of Chennai were there. Young and old, holding the Sahodari banner, the big and the small banners carrying the messages 'Transgender women should be treated with dignity'. It was a very important moment in our times of struggles.
The event was a big success. Our messages for equality and dignity will have definitely reached the hearts of the people who had gathered there.
Many thanks to Magdalene and Center for Counseling for their support. Giving us space right from planning for the event to final preparation for the event. Thanks to Srijith and Chithra senon. Thanks to Srivath who supported in a big way right from the beautiful face painting he did for us and for documenting the event via video. Thanks to my lovely sisters Monal and Olga. The police were very cooperative and the press were very friendly.
The New Indian Express newspaper coverage on the event is here http://www.expressbuzz.com/ed...%E2%80%98We+are+always+pu shed+to+the+margin%E2%80% 99&artid=7QkeaGLWvWM=&Sec tionID=lifojHIWDUU=&MainS ectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&Sec tionName=rSY|6QYp3kQ=&SEO =
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