Sahodari Foundation’s Post

What does visibility mean when we already feel hypervisible? Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility, which celebrates the lives of trans people while also raising awareness of the discrimination we face. It comes after a week in which rainbow communities have been repeatedly under attack throughout Aotearoa, with religious extremists painting over rainbow pedestrian crossings and forcing the cancellation of a community event. These hateful scenes have shaken many trans, non-binary, irawhiti takatāpui and MVPFAFF+ people in Aotearoa. Many of us already feel hypervisible, and the unwanted attention has only made some of us feel more vulnerable. So what does visibility even achieve? Visibillity is about seeing our needs. It’s about seeing the violence and discrimination we face, and standing up to say that’s not what we want in Aotearoa. Visibility is about seeing us as people. It’s about access to gender-affirming healthcare and mental health support for everyone who needs it. Visibility is about seeing our community. It’s about acknowledging that we’re stronger when we stand together in solidarity and hope. Visibility is about aroha. It’s about telling the trans people in your life that they are loved, valued and seen. And visibility is about resistance. It’s about recognising that trans people have always been here, and that we will never stop fighting for our rights. Never. Visibility is about refusing to be invisible, and refusing to let hatred win.

Today, we celebrated #IDAHOBIT2024 at the UN House in Nepal by hoisting the rainbow flag🏳🌈, reaffirming our commitment to combat the hate, discrimination, and violence that many #LGBTQI+ individuals face daily. The theme of this year’s International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on 17 May 2024 is: “No one left behind: equality, freedom and justice for all. Under international human rights law, all countries are obligated to promote and protect the human rights of all persons without discrimination. Despite this, in 2024, many millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) people continue to suffer discrimination, marginalization, poverty, violence, imprisonment, and even loss of life solely because of who they are. That includes punitive laws, policies, and practices. In 62 countries, consensual same-sex sexual relations between adults in private are criminalized, with 12 of these countries even imposing the death penalty for such relations.

In India, transgender individuals are most visible when begging at traffic junctions. They are amongst the most excluded and marginalised members of society, facing severe hardships and exploitation as begging becomes their sole means of survival. #transgendervisiblityday #transvisiblity #sangama #3MIndia # #Solidarityfoundation #changemakers #genderandsexualminorities #inclusivity

🔍 Exploring the Struggles: Transgender Identity in India Uncovering the intricate challenges transgender individuals face in obtaining their Transgender Certificate & Identity Card in India. Aishwarya Bansal's insightful capstone project dives deep into the realities of the application process, both online and offline, revealing systemic barriers and personal struggles. Despite the promising Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of 2019, hurdles hinder the community's progress. Through rigorous qualitative research, including questionnaires and interviews with transgender individuals, NGOs, and government officials, this study sheds light on the complexities of accessing essential documentation. Discover how these findings could lead to meaningful policy changes and promote inclusivity. 📜✨ Click on the link below to read more: https://lnkd.in/gczZUj7r #publicpolicy #indiabykautilya #policymakers #collegesanduniversities #capstoneproject #KautilyaSchoolOfPublicPolicy #students GITAM Deemed University

IDAHOBIT is an acronym that means " INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, BIAPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA. It's a day set aside every May 17th to celebrate the significant strides that have been made towards equality across the World. It's a day set aside to raise awareness about discrimination, violence, and challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals. It's a day and time set aside to reflect on and effort of organizations, activists, groups, and advocates to end violence of any kind, discrimination, and hate speech against SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION. Total improved Health initiative (TiHi) is thrilled to announce this year's theme: No one left behind: Equality, Freedom, and Justice for all. Total improved Health initiative (TiHi) is in solidarity with OPEN HOUSE NETWORK, other organisations, groups, activists, to end violence, discrimination, and hate speech. It's a call for UNITY, CARE, LOVE, PEACE and HARMONY. Only through solidarity, we will create a World without INJUSTICE, where no one is left behind, equality, freedom, and justice for all. #idahobit #idahobit2024 #equality #freedom #love #LoveIsLove #justice #tih_initiative

During Pride Month, we celebrate the strides we've made towards inclusivity and equality. But as we applaud these achievements, it's crucial to ask ourselves: Are we really progressing as much as we think? Despite the colorful celebrations, queer couples in India still navigate a maze of financial inequities that affect everything from buying homes together to planning for the future with their loved ones. While many of us enjoy the privileges of joint #bankaccounts and #inheritance rights, these remain out of reach for many in the queer community, leaving them vulnerable and financially insecure. Isn’t it time we address these disparities head-on? Through this carousel, we aim to raise awareness and foster discussions that pave the way to genuine financial equality. Because progress isn’t just about celebrating how far we’ve come, it’s about recognizing the road we still have to travel. #PrideMonth #FinancialEquality #FPSBIndia

GRRIPP South Asia is excited to present the latest digital storytelling project video awarded to Chitrokarkhana. The digital storytelling video documentary sheds light on the daily challenges and remarkable resilience of transgender individuals. Beyond the visible hurdles, the transgender community faces discrimination, social isolation, and profound mental health issues. Employment discrimination often confines them to unstable work or joblessness, exacerbating their struggles. Transgender individuals are disproportionately at risk of violence and harassment, with countless incidents going unreported. Family rejection can lead to homelessness, further compounding their difficulties. Inadequate legal protections make them even more vulnerable. This documentary aims to acknowledge and support the transgender community in their hidden battles. It's time for society to come together and work towards a more intersectional and resilient world that guarantees their rights, dignity, and well-being. Join us in raising awareness and fostering empathy for the intersectional community of our society by watching and sharing this powerful documentary. Let's work together for positive change. #TransgenderRights #IntersectionalityMatters #UnseenStruggles IRDR Centre for Gender and Disaster UCL Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction (IRDR) GRRIPP Africa

Some big wins for LGBTQI+ Rights in India! We have made some significant strides towards inclusivity with the latest policy updates that recognize the rights of the LGBTQI+ community. From recognizing queer households for ration cards to ensuring joint bank accounts and banning discriminatory practices in healthcare—these are major wins that set a great direction for even bigger victories ahead. Here's to building a future where every individual is treated with dignity and respect. #LGBTQIRights #DiversityAndInclusion #SocialJustice #Advocacy #PolicyUpdate

Fatal Violence Against the Transgender and Gender-Expansive Community in 2024 The Human Rights Campaign is both saddened and infuriated by the deaths of at least twenty-one transgender and gender-expansive people whose lives were tragically and inhumanely taken through violent means, including gun and intimate partner violence, in 2024. Since 2013, the Human Rights Campaign has tracked incidents of fatal trans violence— the same year the Federal Bureau of Investigation began reporting on hate crimes motivated by anti-trans bias— and provided action items that can help end the violence. These victims, like all of us, were loving partners, parents, family members, friends and community members. They worked, went to school and attended houses of worship. They were real people who did not deserve to have their lives taken. As we continue working toward justice and equality for trans and gender-expansive people, we celebrate the lives for those we have lost in 2024 https://lnkd.in/ggK3HBgY Www.lgbtqvetted.com

🌈 Empowering Change: Legal Rights and Protections for Transgender Individuals The MIET School of Law, in collaboration with the Human Rights Council of India J&K Chapter, successfully organized an impactful event on the topic "Legal Rights and Protections for Transgender Individuals". We were privileged to host Ms. Arnavi, the first transgender activist from Jammu & Kashmir, as our special guest. Her powerful address left a deep impression on everyone in attendance. She not only shared her personal journey as a transgender individual, but also passionately highlighted the struggles faced by the transgender community in terms of legal recognition and social acceptance. Ms. Arnavi emphasized the importance of legal reforms that are urgently needed to protect transgender rights and create a more inclusive society. Her words resonated with empathy, urging the audience to become allies for the cause and actively work towards dismantling the deep-rooted stigma that still exists. Her session was not just eye-opening but a call to action, making it clear that while progress has been made, much more remains to be done to ensure transgender individuals can live with dignity and equal protection under the law. Our esteemed resource persons, Ms. Uma Kapahi, Advocate, J&K High Court, and Chairperson of the State Human Rights Council, J&K & Ms. Sugandh Gandotra, Advocate, J&K High Court, further enriched the session. Both legal experts delved into the current legal framework for transgender rights in India, discussing the protections under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and areas where further legal reform is needed. They outlined the legal implications of discrimination and how the judiciary can play a key role in safeguarding these rights. Their insights empowered our law students to think critically about how they can use their legal education to support marginalized communities. This event has left a lasting impact on our students, inspiring them to pursue legal advocacy in support of the LGBTQ+ community. The MIET School of Law is proud to have contributed to this empowering change and stands committed to supporting initiatives that promote equality and inclusion. #TransgenderRights #EqualityForAll #MIETSchoolOfLaw #LegalAwareness #LGBTQRights #EmpowerChange #HumanRights #SupportAndInclusion