The LGBTIQ community in the State now has its own YouTube channel.
The channel ‘RANG. Adding colours to life’ was launched by Queerythm, a city-based organisation working for the rights of sexual minorities, at a first-of-its kind Valentine’s Day event for the LGBTIQ community members here on Wednesday.
The channel will have short videos by the community members and experts on sexuality, gender, and a whole range of other issues of the LGBTIQ community to increase awareness among the public, Shyama S. Prabha, vice president of Queerythm, said.
“Misconceptions prevail that gay or lesbian relationships are against the order of nature. We want to debunk these ideas. We also want to address issues of not only transgenders, but also of the entire LGBTIQ community,” she said.
As the name denotes, the Rang logo includes all colours representing the LGBTIQ community.
A page called Rang was also launched on the occasion. It will serve as a space to project queer arts, talents, undertakings, and entrepreneurial initiatives of the community members. “It will create self-employment opportunities for our community members, be it jewellery or bag making or other ventures,” she said.
Nearly 30-odd people from the community came together at a location known only to them and a few others. The venue had to be shifted at the last minute after some hurdles cropped up. But this did not put a damper on the mood, as the members cracked jokes, popped balloons, and laughed heartily. Red and white balloons and festoons added colour to the celebration of love, and not just of the romantic kind.
“Valentine’s Day is usually a heteronormative celebration, but we wanted to show that sexual and gender minorities too can celebrate the day,” says Prijith P.K., general secretary of Queerythm.
Expressions of these were the queer greeting cards launched to depict love among the LGBTIQ community. “Cards outside cater only to heterosexual love. There is nothing that portrays love of men for men or women for women. We have prepared such cards for sale. These have been designed by a College of Fine Arts student,” Shyama said.
A jute bag manufacturing initiative was also launched with the aim of starting a unit. “This is a beginning. The skills have been imparted by experts, and we can get funds from the government to start a unit if a proposal is submitted. We are already getting enquiries for the bags,” Shyama said.
A short film exhibition, dance, music, and queer-themed games were part of the celebrations.
