The zine was full of sensitive and careful representation of the community both in art and literature. I would let you explore it for yourself from here and enjoy it. For we are only too aware, what a difference some representation in mainstream would have made growing up for most of us.

Congratulation to the Lotus Zine team for bringing out this much needed volume and very good luck for your future volumes. Also many thanks to all the artists who provided their consent for us to host their work.

All art work are copyright of the Zine and the individual artists. Orinam is hosting the content with appropriate permissions.

Ten years later, we are still standing, even if not tall. It has been a tumultuous journey; from telling us our lives were legal in 2009 to oh-wait-scratch-that-still-illegal in 2013, the landmark NALSA judgement in 2014 to the current Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill which neither protects trans rights nor complies with the operative part of NALSA, the progressive judgement on the Right to Privacy, and finally getting down to the Anti-Trafficking bill which can do more harm than good.

Initially established in 2009 as the Chennai Rainbow Coalition,  a number of NGOs, CBOs, collectives and other organizations and individuals working in the space of queer rights and community support stitched themselves together to observe June as Pride month in Chennai and to conduct the first Pride march  that year.  In 2013, the Chennai Rainbow Coalition expanded to include similar groups outside Chennai and within Tamil Nadu, and renamed itself the Tamil Nadu Rainbow Coalition [TNRC].

In 2009, Marina Beach, we learned, was the venue we were permitted at our first March. In later years, we were shuffled around to Elliot’s beach and eventually to a stretch commencing from Rajarathinam stadium, Egmore. As to where we go from here, your guess is as good as mine!

However, now that we are talking about venues, let’s try to address the ubiquitous question: “why this venue?” This merits a two-part answer. This is the venue allocated by the state for protest marches, as the Pride march is classified. That being said, even if we had a choice over the venue, the right question to ask is “why NOT this venue?”

What makes this venue, unworthy of your walk? The class of neighborhood? Its residents? Or are you worried the puddle on the road will dirty your shoes? Where is the solidarity that you are marching for, if you can’t share “their” everyday lives for a few hours? Moreover, aren’t some of us them, some of them us?

Mind you, if a bisexual transwoman of color who was a sex worker didn’t help start the Stonewall riots, you wouldn’t have a Pride to celebrate this June for the 10^th time. Perhaps, may be a beauty walk down your favorite lane, but that ain’t Pride, the one that is claiming you, your place in the society one right at a time. [We acknowledge there are valid concerns around the accessibility of this venue for those requiring wheelchairs, and are striving to address it by trying to mobilize vehicles that can transport people in wheelchairs].

Every Pride is a struggle to organize, be it for mobilizing funds, logistics, or applying for police permission every year. Simultaneously our voices have grown louder, more brazen and unapologetic. 

Our focus on issues has diversified over the years, with growing consciousness of the overlapping nature of oppressions. Intersectionality became an operative word and efforts to link with other social justice movements became the need of the hour. Can we do more and better? Of course, yes, hopefully you will hear of it from a post about the 15^th Chennai Pride.

I had to save this for the last: if you’ve heard a conversation containing the line “Chennai Pride is conservative” at the march, immediately imagine a person rolling his eyes  so far back he can see the back of his skull. That person will unmistakably be yours truly. If by conservative, they mean middle-class led, trans-inclusive, caste-bashing, feminism-toting Pride, sloganeering for sex workers’ rights in a working class neighborhood, I will gladly take it, flashing all my conservative teeth!

Image Credits Haris Manian and copyright Orinam

THANK YOU everyone for the tremendous support, including monetary and in-kind contributions, spreading the word, and good will that came our way in response to that appeal. This support continues to fuel our contribution to this relief effort, and is helping us scale it up to meet previously unidentified needs.

Here are updates since the previous post:

The previously set target (170) of provisions has been met.

Dec 15: the provisions earlier sourced were distributed to 41 transwomen identified by Sankari and surveyed jointly by Sankari and Jaya in Thiruvottiyur (16 in Netaji Nagar and 25 in Kargil Nagar). In the following days of the same week, two transmen were handed over sacks of provisions.

Dec 19: With the enthusiasm borrowed from the above successful effort, an order for a further 65 sets of provisions was placed for distribution to Ezhil Nagar, Saidapet and T. Nagar. Of these areas, Saidapet and T. Nagar were not listed in our previous post: individuals were identified there only subsequently as having immediate needs.

Dec 22: These sets were distributed to 20 kothis from T. Nagar and 20 thirunangais from Saidapet who had been identified in a survey by Siva. From there, Siva and I went on to distribute relief to 20 transwomen from Ezhil Nagar. The estimate was initially provided by Anjali and Ponni to Ramki and Sankari. Subsequently the individuals were met in the field by Siva. In Ezhil Nagar, we also identified two ciswomen neighbours whose homes were badly affected. Siva suggested supplying two sacks to them, and requested the transgender women to distribute the provisions to these two households: a move that he felt would help strengthen their relationship with their non-trans neighbours. Thus, two of the provision sets in Ezhil Nagar went to non-trans beneficiaries.

The remaining three sacks of provisions will be distributed to three transwomen identified in the K.K. Nagar area.

The number of 15 listed in our previous post as belonging to “other areas” has been revised to 25, based on reports from the ground. Another set of 15 beneficiaries has been identified in T-Nagar.

Dec 25: Orders were placed on Christmas for the next batch of provisions. These will be packed at my place on Dec 26 and distributed soon afterwards.

We have also received in-kind contributions in the form of clothes from Vikalp, Vadodara. Some kilos of Rice and toor dal have been received from one of the local donors, who also contributed monetarily. Thanks for all this!

The overall estimate of need has gone up to 234, and we currently have funds (Rs. 76,800 at Rs. 1200 per set) to meet the additional numbers of 64, thanks to the generous outpouring of support.

We are now examining recovery needs besides one month of provisions. The Saidapet area has been assessed to require kitchen utensils (approx. 25 homes of transgender community members, initial estimate) that have been washed away along with other possessions: ground estimation is currently underway. We are continuing to assess needs besides provisions for other localities as well.

The “we” here includes volunteers from Orinam, Nirangal and Sahodaran and unaffiliated individuals.

Among the communities severely affected by the recent rains are transgender women (thirunangais) in northern Chennai and those whose homes are located near the rivers that were in spate.

Based on anecdotal reports, local queer/trans groups and individuals have been visiting localities that have been hardest hit, and speaking to community informants to get an idea of numbers of individuals in greatest need.

Following this we have drawn up a list for a month’s supply of provisions, including rice, rava, wheat flour, toor daal, cooking oil, tea, tamarind, salt, sugar, chilly powder and other spices, totaling approximately Rs. 1200 per head.

On Saturday, Dec 12, 2015, the first set of provisions was distributed to 60 transwomen belonging to the Choolaimedu area, identified by Jaya (Sahodaran) and Shakthi. This was a collaborative effort of volunteers from the Orinam collective (fundraising) and members of organizations Nirangal, Sahodaran and Thozhi and unaffiliated individuals (needs assessment, mobilizing in-kind contributions). Volunteers across the board contributed to packing and distribution.

Sahodaran and its volunteers mobilized in-kind donations such as blankets, saris and toiletries, and these were bundled with the provisions and distributed to the Choolaimedu group.

Provisions were sourced by Siva and Felix from a wholesaler in Mylapore, and purchased from funds contributed by community members, volunteers and members of formal or informal groups (Orinam, 377NoGoingBack/Global Day of Rage, Vikalp, Delhi Queer Pride, GaysiFamily) and allies.

Contributions have been received or committed thus far from Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore, Vadodara, Mumbai and the US. We thank all those who have contributed to date – let us know if you would be comfortable with having your name listed.

As of today, we have raised about Rs.129, 000, which has allowed us to purchase provisions for 105 people, and cover incidentals such as local transportation from the wholesale provision dealer. Following distribution of 60 sets, orders have been placed for another 45, which will be packed and distributed over the next two-three days in Thiruvottiyur, to community members identified by Sankari.

We seek at least another Rs. 80,000 to cover one month’s provisions for the rest and local transportation. Funds beyond the target, if received, will go towards meeting additional needs such as toiletries.

For more information:

• Felix, Volunteer, Orinam, at +91 98843 73433 or robertshil@gmail.com (can receive financial contributions, both domestic and overseas)

• Sivakumar and Sankari, Nirangal at nirangal.india@gmail.com or +91 98406 99776 (Sivakumar)

• Jaya, Sahodaran, at jaya.saho@gmail.com or +91 98418 65423

Notes:
1. We have not (yet) used crowd-sourcing platforms as those tend to have high fees associated with them. At this point, we would like eliminate or minimize surcharges and handling costs. We will update readers if we register with a platform.
2. Accounts are available for inspection at any time. However, we would prefer not to place names or identifiable photographs of beneficiaries in the public domain.
3. This post is not a comprehensive account of all relief work focused on transpeople in Chennai: it is just one account among others [Smiley’s, for example]. Please do let us know of other initiatives.
4.  See https://new2.orinam.net/chennai-post-flood-relief-efforts-xmas-update for an update on Dec 25, 2015.