In light of the recent disapproval towards the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2018 which has been passed in the Lok Sabha we have realised now its time to place our candle of hope in people’s heart to ignite the long darkened skies of LGBTKH community. Traversing through this path, we are coming up with one of its kind, ‘Trans Colour’ festival: TransBosonotoUtsab ’19 in collaboration with Jadavpur University.  Learn more about this event here.

Set in West Bengal a year before the historic decision to repeal India's anti-sodomy law, Penal Code 377, Until and Unless follows the story of four individuals and the impact of systemic oppression via India's legislative system on their lives. The film features Sintu, a transwoman community leader raised in the Sheoraphuli red-light district; Nitu, a transwoman sex worker who lives a dual identity as a man named Nitai; Lovely, a Koti person who lives a closeted life while working in an office environment, and Pratap, a trans teen still navigating her identity. Through juxtaposing their stories with interviews from lawyers and activists working to oppose these laws, the film shows the lived consequences of state and social violence on community self-representations. Learn more here.

The LGBTKHAIQ~~ Parliment of West Bengal will strive to create an organizing platform strong enough to demand the social and policy changes needed to ensure human rights for the queer community in India. Through collectivizing and creating an organizing system that unites across institutions, economic status, caste and identity boundaries, we ultimately hope to establish a cohesive list of demands and push the community towards mass mobilization.  Learn more about this initiative here.

In partnership with the University of Pennsylvania South Asia Center, Anandam hosts students participating in the SAC Research Internship program. Students work with Anandam for an 8 week project which includes advocacy, film, digital and photography projects. Students can also work collaboratively with the Sonagachi Research Institute to assist in community led research reports. Anandam accepts volunteers and interns from all backgrounds and at all experience levels. If you or your school would like to spend the summer or semester with Anandam please reach out today!

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Learn more about our partnership with UPENN here.

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Anandam is able to provide an introductory or advanced workshop on LGBTQKH* sensitivity and inclusion in professional and educational environments. Workshops can include basic topics like understanding vocabulary, demographics and identity to building empathy and understanding around the barriers faced by LGBTQKH* students, clients and employees. Trainers can help your organization develop short and long-term personal and organizational action plans toward building a safer and more supportive environment. Trainers are able to adjust the presentation to accommodate all age groups and contexts. This service includes workshops targeted at healthcare providers.