Three people from different walks of life come together to start an online platform for LGBTQ called The Pridebook. Meet Anoop Murali, Bindu Chandan and Chandan Das. The Pridebook is supported by Akkai Padmashali — an LGBTQ activist, who is also honoured with the Rajyotsava Prashasti and it will also be supported by Dr Ali Khwaja and his Banjara Academy, covering the counselling aspect .
“We saw transgenders at traffic signals,” says Anoop. “The stark contrast between achievers such as Akkai and those begging for a livelihood touched us deeply. It made us think about their plight. We decided to do something about it and started The Pridebook.”
The main objective, say the trio is “to create a safe space, acceptance and openness for LGBTQ. The Pridebook is also an effort to debunk various myths and misconceptions about this community, their practices and their preferences.”
Elaborating on the myths, Anoop says, “There is one that when a transgender dies, they bury them upside down and beat with slippers thinking that will redeem them from being born like that again.”
The site will officially be launched in the beginning of February or mid- March. People can post pictures, get help with counselling and also look for dates on The Pridebook, which will also work as a dating site, explains Anoop.
What if the person is illiterate or is not technologically skilled? Anoop replies, “It is as simple as downloading the App on your mobile. They can just post their picture with a short audio describing themselves. And the counselling will be provided in 40 different languages, including all major Indian languages. They can have an audio or a video and even one-on-one counselling, depending on their convenience.”
The Pridebook is also tied up with a few companies, where “we will give interested people vocational training and help them find jobs so that transgenders will be off the streets and able to lead a life with dignity.”
They also applaud the film and modelling industry for accommodating the LGBTQ. “Anjali Lama, a transgender model from Nepal, has acted in a Malayalam movie with Mammooty and she has also made her mark in the modelling world. Times are changing and we are getting there. Our online platform will only add to the ongoing movement,” adds Anoop.
For details log on to thePridebook.com
Emerging a winner
LGBT activist, Akkai Padmashali, talks about transgenders and the society
How ignorant or aware do you think the society is a towards LGBTQ ?
It is an immature society, which seems to be unaware of many issues, not just about gender sexuality. The whole issue of LGBTQ was hidden and ignored. The work in this field is stronger today and we saw the verdicts in 2014, 2017 and 2018, which shows that years of activism is yielding results. It also shows us what activism is all about. It is the duty of the society to understand who we are what our needs are and vice versa.
Has section 377 helped all LGBTQ or just a section?
The verdicts addressed certain issues including human sexuality. Yet, I find a conflict between constitutional and social morality. The constitutional duty is done. The next question is how do we merge it in with the social morality and that is a big concern. I don’t think the society will accept you the way you are immediately, hence the activism will have to be a continuous process.
Most transgenders live an isolated life...
That is because of society, and its trans-phobia. Your society has isolated us and assassinated us. It is thanks to a few activists and their efforts that our plight has been brought to the forefront and people are willing to sit and talk to us. I feel Karnataka is more progressive when it comes to our issues. We have people who hug us and even shake hands with us, which was not the case 25 years ago.
