Veena, a Hijra in Bangalore stated at a public meeting, “I am a Transgender, a woman, Dalit, sex worker, socialist and poor. I am all of these things and much more. And I fight to build up a world where I will be accepted for everything I am.”
Exclusion happens at every level of societal space, especially when in the country like India, people can be easily marginalised on the basis of caste, class, gender, sexuality, region, religion, culture etc. The entire process of social exclusion or marginalisation has systematically kept individuals and communities away from the resources, opportunities and their rights. As a result they are barred from social, political, economical and cultural activities, so that the power can be restored within …show more content…
India has diverse transgender identities including Hijras, Kinnars, Kothis, Jogappas, Kotha, Shivshaktis, Thirunambi and many others. Though Hyderabad has been second hub of IT companies after Bangalore still it remains to be conservative when it comes to LGBTQ issues. It is slowly seeing an influx of people from various different cultures and varsities, there has been increase in LGBTQ activism subsequently leading to pride arches in 2013, 2014 and 2015. But the 2015 pride march was the first major demonstration after the formation of Telangana as an independent state. Titled as Hyderabad Queer Swabhimana Pride, where Swabhimana means self-respect, the march had an underlying theme focusing on the culture of Telangana. People were dressed in traditional attire, symbolizing the festivals of Bathukamma. They took the streets to draw attention of the society who rejects alternative sexualities; people participated in large numbers identifying themselves as gay, lesbian, transgender or hijra. This was the first pride march where Hijra community in Hyderabad took the lead and voiced out the kind of discrimination they have faced and are still facing in the society. The march from Hussain Sagar lake and wounded its way through residential lanes, filling the streets with colors and slogans asking for equal rights and life of dignity in the society. Hijras for the first time taking the lead has been culmination of many such past events where this community have been denied there rights of equal opportunities, inclusion of third gender in the government jobs, proper health care and housing facilities. Contrary to that the state has left no means to stigmatize them and making their lives miserable, reducing their identity from an individual in free
Exclusion happens at every level of societal space, especially when in the country like India, people can be easily marginalised on the basis of caste, class, gender, sexuality, region, religion, culture etc. The entire process of social exclusion or marginalisation has systematically kept individuals and communities away from the resources, opportunities and their rights. As a result they are barred from social, political, economical and cultural activities, so that the power can be restored within …show more content…
India has diverse transgender identities including Hijras, Kinnars, Kothis, Jogappas, Kotha, Shivshaktis, Thirunambi and many others. Though Hyderabad has been second hub of IT companies after Bangalore still it remains to be conservative when it comes to LGBTQ issues. It is slowly seeing an influx of people from various different cultures and varsities, there has been increase in LGBTQ activism subsequently leading to pride arches in 2013, 2014 and 2015. But the 2015 pride march was the first major demonstration after the formation of Telangana as an independent state. Titled as Hyderabad Queer Swabhimana Pride, where Swabhimana means self-respect, the march had an underlying theme focusing on the culture of Telangana. People were dressed in traditional attire, symbolizing the festivals of Bathukamma. They took the streets to draw attention of the society who rejects alternative sexualities; people participated in large numbers identifying themselves as gay, lesbian, transgender or hijra. This was the first pride march where Hijra community in Hyderabad took the lead and voiced out the kind of discrimination they have faced and are still facing in the society. The march from Hussain Sagar lake and wounded its way through residential lanes, filling the streets with colors and slogans asking for equal rights and life of dignity in the society. Hijras for the first time taking the lead has been culmination of many such past events where this community have been denied there rights of equal opportunities, inclusion of third gender in the government jobs, proper health care and housing facilities. Contrary to that the state has left no means to stigmatize them and making their lives miserable, reducing their identity from an individual in free