The 'Pride March', scheduled to be held on December 2, in the City, is expected to draw more than 10,000 people from the neighbouring states such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
People who will be taking part in the march prefer to call it a celebratory event rather than a transgender march.
The march that grabs a lot of eyeballs and attracts a great deal of media attention has lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT or Queer) people gather in large numbers. It is a show of strength by the community which is more than willing to talk about why they are so queer.
Metrolife interacted with a few transgenders to understand why the 20,000 transgenders living in the City still can't walk on the street like normal people, without the fear of being harassed or being mocked at. Most transgenders engage in sex work for a living. The educated ones confess that it is tough to get a job, but their education helps them communicate and stand up against being exploited.
Nayana, who has completed her graduation and a computer course, says, "I used to freelance for a company but they came to know about my gender and I was asked to leave. After having failed to get a job anywhere, I began working for an organisation that supports the cause of transgenders. The sad part is that we are looked at like objects for sex, and that's the treatment we get wherever we go."
Rakshitha, another transgender, is quite loud in her dressing. "I indulge in sex work for a living. There are a few places in Cubbon Park, where we carry out our job at night without being noticed by the cops. If we don't bribe the cops, they make advances and harass us. This is the only way to earn my livelihood." Akkaipadmashali, a transgender working with 'Sangama', an NGO, says that her experience so far has been rather traumatic.
She points out that a lot of people like her still feel very marginalised and are subjected to public humiliation. "The 'Pride March' is held to make our presence felt in the society. We still have a few people who smirk at us but that's slowly changing and people have begun to give us our space," she says. She adds, "Education is the only way out of our trauma. Even if we don't get a job, at least we will have the knowledge to defend ourselves from exploitation."
Sankari, programme officer with Nirangal, an NGO in Chennai, who will be coming for the Pride March feels these events surely make a difference. "Events like this gives us a chance to talk about the discrimination we face. At least, five out of ten people will pay heed to our problems. After such events, our children will feel more confident to step out." Vinay Chandran, executive director, Swabhava Trust, thinks that marches and rallies have forced the society to sit up and take notice.
"It is an attempt to gain public visibility. When a large group of transgenders walk down the road together, there's a feeling that they are not alone," says Vinay and adds, "these marches won't make a sudden difference but they have done well in engaging the public and there will be more such events in the months to come."
People who will be taking part in the march prefer to call it a celebratory event rather than a transgender march.
The march that grabs a lot of eyeballs and attracts a great deal of media attention has lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT or Queer) people gather in large numbers. It is a show of strength by the community which is more than willing to talk about why they are so queer.
Metrolife interacted with a few transgenders to understand why the 20,000 transgenders living in the City still can't walk on the street like normal people, without the fear of being harassed or being mocked at. Most transgenders engage in sex work for a living. The educated ones confess that it is tough to get a job, but their education helps them communicate and stand up against being exploited.
Nayana, who has completed her graduation and a computer course, says, "I used to freelance for a company but they came to know about my gender and I was asked to leave. After having failed to get a job anywhere, I began working for an organisation that supports the cause of transgenders. The sad part is that we are looked at like objects for sex, and that's the treatment we get wherever we go."
Rakshitha, another transgender, is quite loud in her dressing. "I indulge in sex work for a living. There are a few places in Cubbon Park, where we carry out our job at night without being noticed by the cops. If we don't bribe the cops, they make advances and harass us. This is the only way to earn my livelihood." Akkaipadmashali, a transgender working with 'Sangama', an NGO, says that her experience so far has been rather traumatic.
She points out that a lot of people like her still feel very marginalised and are subjected to public humiliation. "The 'Pride March' is held to make our presence felt in the society. We still have a few people who smirk at us but that's slowly changing and people have begun to give us our space," she says. She adds, "Education is the only way out of our trauma. Even if we don't get a job, at least we will have the knowledge to defend ourselves from exploitation."
Sankari, programme officer with Nirangal, an NGO in Chennai, who will be coming for the Pride March feels these events surely make a difference. "Events like this gives us a chance to talk about the discrimination we face. At least, five out of ten people will pay heed to our problems. After such events, our children will feel more confident to step out." Vinay Chandran, executive director, Swabhava Trust, thinks that marches and rallies have forced the society to sit up and take notice.
"It is an attempt to gain public visibility. When a large group of transgenders walk down the road together, there's a feeling that they are not alone," says Vinay and adds, "these marches won't make a sudden difference but they have done well in engaging the public and there will be more such events in the months to come."