LGBT culture in Chennai explained

Chennai has LGBTQIA cultures that are diverse concerning- socio-economic class, gender, and degree of visibility and politicisation. They have historically existed in the margins and surfaced primarily in contexts such as transgender activism and HIV prevention initiatives for men having sex with men (MSM) and trans women (TG).

List of organizations

Community development may be traced back to Sunil Menon's mapping of sexual networks among MSM and TG in the early 1990s[1] and the subsequent formation of Sathe Honduran, the oldest group of its kind in the city and state to provide spaces for community support and sexual health, primarily for working-class MSM who visit public cruising spots.

There are currently over 15 groups in Chennai that work on LGBTQIA+ issues.[2] Most of them are community-run initiatives, and some are NGOs.

Most of these groups are part of the informal Chennai Rainbow Coalition, formed in 2009, to jointly work towards visibility and advocacy.[3] The group was expanded in 2014 to constitute the Tamil Nadu Rainbow Coalition, with membership from groups around the state.

Research

Chennai has two research institutes that partner with community groups to conduct social science and biomedical research on LGBTQIA+ issues. The Centre for Sexuality and Health Research and Policy has published extensively on issues such as stigma and discrimination faced within the healthcare system by MSM and trans women, legal recognition of transgender identity, and other issues. The National Institute for Research on Tuberculosis (NIRT), in partnership with the community group Sahodaran and Harvard University School of Public Health carries out studies of mental health and HIV prevention] among men who have sex with men.

Significant Events in Chennai's LGBTQIA+ history

LGBT workplace symposium

In May 2017, Chennai saw an event that brought together employers, employees and activists to discuss the challenges faced by the queer (LGBTIQ) community at work places. This LGBT workplace symposium, titled LGBT Workplace — Expanding the Dialogue in India, was hosted by RELX in association with the Amsterdam-based Workplace Pride Foundation and the Bengaluru-based Solidarity Foundation, with Orinam and Community Business as community partners.[24]

Few of the panellists were Michiel Kolman, a senior vice president at Elsevier, Parmesh Shahani, head of Godrej India Culture Labs, Sunil Menon, founder of NGO Sahodaran, lawyer Poongkhulali Balasubramanian, Ritesh Rajani, an openly gay HR diversity professional, and also journalist Lavanya Narayan.[25] [26] [27]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: The world through the eyes of a gay person. 26 February 2008. Rediff. 10 July 2014.
  2. Web site: Chennai Pride Organizations. www.orinam.net. 18 May 2010. 7 July 2014.
  3. News: Menon. Sunil. Gay pride month is here. The Hindu. 9 June 2012. 7 July 2014.
  4. Web site: Chennai Dost. Chennai Dost. 2015-09-06. 8 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150908035502/http://chennaidost.com/. dead.
  5. News: It's a great honour to be awarded for book on gender variants: Gopi Shankar . 21 July 2014 . The Times of India . 28 November 2018 .
  6. http://www.asianage.com/india/bjp-supports-tn-leader-book-lgbt-157
  7. Web site: BJP leader launches LGBT rights book in TN.
  8. Web site: Rainbow Film Fest Returns to Town. https://web.archive.org/web/20151213095955/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Rainbow-Film-Fest-Returns-to-Town/2015/06/13/article2863214.ece. dead. 13 December 2015. 2015-09-06.
  9. Web site: RSS flip-flop on homosexuality indicates gay men in India remain in exile, writes Ashok Row Kavi. 19 March 2016.
  10. Web site: LGBT activists hold candlelight vigil in Chennai for Orlando victims. www.tamilnadulgbtiq.in. 7 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160619062456/http://www.tamilnadulgbtiq.in/2016/06/lgbt-activists-hold-candlelight-vigil.html. 19 June 2016. dead.
  11. Web site: Making One Cubicle Safe at a Time: A Gay Man's Fight in India . 3 June 2016 . 4 Feb 2018.
  12. Web site: Hues of Change . 4 Feb 2018.
  13. Web site: India's Game Changer . https://web.archive.org/web/20161125125359/https://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/symantec-standing-out. dead. 25 November 2016. 4 Feb 2018.
  14. Web site: LGBT community symposium seeks a level playing field at workplace. Kamini Mathail. TOI. 23 May 2017. 3 July 2017.
  15. Web site: Symposium spotlights LGBT workplace inclusion in India. Michiel Kolman. Elsevier. 13 June 2017. 3 July 2017.
  16. Web site: Ain't nothing wrong with being a drag!. Abinaya Kalyanasundaram. New Indian Express. 17 May 2017. 3 July 2017.
  17. News: Chennai Pride's guide to handle online harassment for the LGBTQIA+ -. 2017-06-16. 2017-07-10. en-US.
  18. Web site: This Lesbian Anthem sings a tune of change. M Suganth. TOI. 31 March 2017. 3 July 2017.
  19. Web site: About Queer Chennai Chronicles. 4 Feb 2018.
  20. Web site: Release of Vidupattavai. 4 Feb 2018.
  21. News: ஒழுக்கங்களுக்கு இடையில்.... The Hindu Tamil. 2018-02-28. ta.
  22. Web site: Chennai's 1st queer lit fest to focus on Tamil writing. June 28, 2018. The Times of India. en. 2019-12-29.
  23. Web site: India's First Queer LitFest in Chennai Provided a Platform to Queer Writers and Artists in the Margins. 2018-11-12. Gaylaxy Magazine. en-US.
  24. News: LGBT community symposium seeks a level playing field at workplace. The Times of India. 23 May 2017 .
  25. News: Pride at Work. The Hindu. 19 June 2017. Caraccio. Camilla.
  26. Web site: 'Coming out' and excluded.
  27. News: Pride at Work. The Hindu. 6 June 2017. 19 June 2017. Caraccio. Camilla.

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