‘Bengal Trans* & Queer Charter of Demands’ released
By Chand
West Bengal’s trans* and queer communities are formulating a policy and political participation advocacy plan. Chand takes us through the first step taken recently
By Chand
West Bengal’s trans* and queer communities are formulating a policy and political participation advocacy plan. Chand takes us through the first step taken recently
By Heena
Heena reports on a recent Dol Jatra event in Kalyani organized by queer support forum Nadia Ranaghat Sampriti Society
By Sudipa Chakraborty, Pawan Dhall, Pradosh Dash
Transgender social worker Sudipa Chakraborty has had a harrowing time applying for Swasthya Sathi, West Bengal government’s ambitious health insurance scheme for one and all
By Debjyoti Ghosh, Jia Mata, Pawan Dhall
Excerpts from the report of a recent webinar on transgender rights in South Asia organized by Partners for Law in Development and Varta Trust
By Dr. Kaustav Bakshi
Dr. Kaustav Bakshi reviews social researcher Niloy Basu’s new book ‘Launda Dancer: Anyo Hijrer Bhinna Bhuban’, an important addition to queer literature in Bengali
By Debjyoti Ghosh
The coronavirus pandemic has thrown new light on food (in)security for transgender persons, says Debjyoti Ghosh
By Shivalal Gautam
In this second paired narrative of queer lives during the lockdown in Assam, Shivalal Gautam tells us how two queer women negotiated multiple trials and reached a better place in...
By Diksha Sanyal
COVID-19 lockdowns may eventually go, but domestic violence against queer persons not quite so. Diksha Sanyal offers some legal solutions
By Namrata Mukherjee
Namrata Mukherjee on policy and legal failures to address the concerns of transgender minors in need of crisis shelter – with inputs from Madhuja Nandi and Pawan Dhall
By Brindaalakshmi K.
‘Gendering of Development Data in India: Beyond the Binary’ – study reveals how structural gaps keep out transgender persons from the social welfare net, not just poor data collection
By Pawan Dhall
There couldn’t have been a better time for ‘Varta’ webzine to complete seven years
By Bana, Chandan Kumar Nayak, Pradosh Dash
Health worker and community organiser Bana reports on the situation of trans masculine people in Odisha during the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown – with inputs from Chandan Kumar Nayak, Pradosh...
By Debjyoti Ghosh
Debjyoti Ghosh reviews Leonard Cortana’s short documentary 'Marielle’s Legacy Will Not Die'
By Shivalal Gautam
In the first of paired narratives of queer lives during the lockdown in Assam, Shivalal Gautam brings you the stories of two queer men
By Sudipa Chakraborty, Sukanta Banerjee, Joyita Mondal
Sudipa Chakraborty, Sukanta Banerjee and Joyita Mondal point out that the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown have heaped both ‘abuse’ and ‘responsibility’ on trans persons, perhaps more than ever before. With...
By Santa Khurai
Santa Khurai proposes continued online education for trans students who may be unable to attend school or college even when the lockdown is lifted