More than 800 members of the Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgenders and Queer (LGBTQ) community took part in ‘Orukkam 2017’, the 17th anniversary celebrations of the Malabar Cultural Forum in Kozhikode on Wednesday.
The annual event has always been an occasion for members of the sexual minorities in the city to come together in celebration of their existence, talents as well as sexuality and to assert their rights.
District Panchayat President Babu Parasseri, who opened the celebrations, elaborated on the steps taken by the local body for the uplift of transgenders. The District Panchayat has representation from the transgender community in its working groups. It has a programme to issue ID cards to transgenders through Literacy Mission. Besides, the District Panchayat is funding vocational training for transgenders through the Skill Development Institute, Mr.Parasseri said. “The skill training would help transgenders to think beyond the vocations they have been engaged in so far and lead a dignified life”, he said.
He also launched ‘Punarjani’, a new Kudumbasree Neighbourhood Group of Transpeople on the occasion. Transactor Anjali Ameer was honoured on the occasion. Team leader, Technical Support Unit of the Kerala State AIDS Control Society, Kaveesher Krishnan, and president of the Malabar Cultural Forum, Nasar C.K., spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, activists such as Sheethal Shyam, Renju Renjima and Ramul P.M. of the Women’s Initiative Network Society took part in a seminar on “Challenges faced by sexual minorities and sex workers”. The seminar stressed the need for members of sexual minorities to overcome the hurdles on their path to be a part of the mainstream society.
Various cultural programmes and competitions were conducted as part of the celebrations.