Please refer to me as a ‘she' when addressing me in your story,” says a transgender as she finished recounting her life story. The significance of that single word is striking considering how casually we use gender-specific pronouns without realising their significance, especially in the case of sexuality minorities.
Sangama, an organisation set up in Ashwathnagar, Sanjaynagar, aims to provide an identity to this section of society. Since its establishment in Bangalore in June 2001, it has come a long way in empowering the sexually marginalised, including those living with HIV/AIDS.
It secures voting, housing and medical facilities entitled to the community from the government. “Though the Government Order [of March 2011] that provides socio-economic benefits to hijras — has been issued, things seem to be moving at a slow pace. They still refuse to take us seriously,” says Akkai Padmashali, programme manager at Sangama. Deprivation of basic rights — use of public parks, transport and even toilets — leaves them with little choice but to resort to begging, prostitution and even suicide. “We were seen as objects to be abused and cursed at will. But now I have gained an identity and am confident of facing the world,” says A. Revathi, former director of Sangama, who authored the first trangender autobiography last August.
Within the community itself, they contend with several challenges: family acceptance and adhering to norms of the transgender community. “Intra-community violence and legal injustice calls for the intervention of Sangama to deal with the situation,” says Veena S., who stood for the recent BBMP elections.
The organisation seeks to holistically rehabilitate such victims of abuse. “Earlier, I was unaware of others like me. I would be terrified even to venture outside. But Sangama has helped conquer these fears through training,” says Sonu, another transgender.
Today, members of Sangama proudly call themselves activists representing the community in national and international forums and are also pursuing studies through open universities. “Though we have come a long way in the past decade, the fight is an ongoing one. The society has slowly come to accept us, but where we go from here remains to be seen,” says Akkai.
