Tag: Trans Feminism | Varta Trust

This image shows a still from the award-winning documentary film ‘Amma’s Pride’ directed by Shiva Krish. In the image, Srija, the main protagonist of the film is seen smiling and talking on her mobile phone, while Valli, her mother, looks on standing next to her also smiling brightly. Mother and daughter are both inside their house, and in the background can be seen sundry household objects placed on shelves or hanging on walls. The background objects have been slightly blurred to enhance the focus on Srija and Valli. Image courtesy Shiva Krish

Pursuing resilience, embracing hope

By Meghjit Sengupta, Pawan Dhall

Meghjit Sengupta reflects on an event centred around award-winning documentary ‘Amma’s Pride’, the story of transgender woman Srija whose marriage to Arunkumar, a cisgender man, in 2019 set a legal...

This indoor mid-range photograph shows drag artiste Ahon Gooptu acting out a scene from the show ‘Item’. The performance space is a room painted white, with wooden furniture, a door and two windows polished brown; the room has a tiled floor and a high ceiling with beams running criss-cross. The room has a blue and white, staid ambient light. A lightly bearded and moustachioed Ahon is dressed in a light-coloured saree, full-sleeved blouse, light jewellery on his neck, wrists, fingers, and ears, and designer footwear; his shoulder-length hair is curly and untied. Ahon is seated at a wooden table, one leg over the other. The table top is cluttered with a table lamp illuminating the wall next to it, a painted flower vase with artificial flowers, a small wooden case, a couple of Japanese hand fans, and four sets of blingy goggles. Ahon has a pensive, far-off look as he mouths some dialogues. A few greeting cards and cutouts are pasted on the wall next to the table. One of them, with rainbow hues, says “Fab Yule Us”, while another says “You’re a cut above the rest.” A little distance behind Ahon is a full-length, wooden-framed mirror placed in a corner against the wall. Two windows, their shutters closed, can be seen on the walls next to the mirror. A pink dupatta and a blanket with two shades of green hang from a beam on the ceiling adding to the colourful but restrained ambience. Photo credit: Abhilasha Das

Insight, Vartanama Apr '25

Zenia, ‘Item’ and the future of the (western) queer dream

By Mihir Seth

Mihir Seth fears the dream of being oneself is crumbling as queer and transgender rights face setbacks globally

This is an early evening mid-range shot of around 14 trans masculine and other queer persons associated with the Samarth trans collective of Odisha standing behind a large rainbow pride flag during the ‘Puri Rainbow Pride Walk’ held on June 13, 2023. The flag is held at chest level across several of the walkers. Some of them are also holding posters with Odia and English text or small rainbow pride flags. They are all smiles as they look at the camera, and exude happiness. A number of other walk participants can be seen behind them. In the background, to the left, are several buildings, while to the right are some more buildings, a couple of palm trees, and a handful of open sky. Photo courtesy SAATHII

Vartanama Nov '23

Dreams and demands

By Bana, Pawan Dhall

Trans masculine individuals in Odisha are speaking up louder about their aspirations for the future – Bana shares a wish list with ‘Varta’ – hopefully most of it will come...

This photograph shows the author Amrita Sarkar conducting a sensitization session on transgender health with the staff of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi earlier this year. In a conference hall lit brightly with ceiling lights, around 30 AIIMS staff members of different genders are seated in two columns. The author is standing in the aisle between the two columns, and appears to be answering the question of one of the staff members. In the background, the main entrance to the conference room, two curtained windows, and a side door are visible. A camera fixed on a tripod stand is also visible, close to the main entrance. Photo courtesy AIIMS

My Story Oct '23

How my tomorrow should look like

By Amrita Sarkar

A decade into the future, Amrita Sarkar wants the trans and queer movements to focus their energies on mental health and geriatric concerns

This illustration is a combination of a photograph and text extracted from the accompanying article. The photograph shows the author Rituparna Borah participating in the ‘Delhi Queer Pride’ in 2009. She is walking under a mammoth six-coloured rainbow pride flag, holding up the flag with her hands, smiling and looking sideways towards the camera, though not at the camera. The sunlight filtering through the flag is lighting up all the colours. In the background, towards the bottom left edge of the photograph, several other pride walkers can be seen. The accompanying text says: “I am not claiming here that there will be no fights or power dynamics, yet I hope that we can solve our issues not by calling out but with chai, samosas, tears, hugs and then some drinks! I still believe that we can create a reality where intersecting marginalized identities are part and parcel of queer-trans feminism(s), and no one has to prove how marginalized they are to get the rights they deserve.” Photo courtesy Voices Against 377

Commentary Aug '23

In loving memory of discourse

By Rituparna Borah

Rituparna Borah wishes for yesterday once more in debates and dialogues around gender and sexuality – her thoughts for the future on ‘Varta’ webzine completing 10 years

Quote: The webinar had participation from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It focused on country-wise sharing of what the law is, in the respective countries, regarding transgender identity acceptance; what aspects of the law disappoint, or create obstacles for transgender communities in realizing their rights; and how have governments and other stakeholders reached out to transgender communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Happenings, Insight, Policy Matters Feb '21

Transgender rights in South Asia: Trends, crises and opportunities

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

Quote: The Madras High Court, emphasising on the spirit of the Constitution that enabled inclusion, explained that trans persons were entitled to the benefit of existing social institutions, including State-recognised marriage. This guaranteed their right to a civil union.

Advice - Rights and Laws Jun '19

Winds of change in marriage law?

By Mihika Poddar

Mihika Poddar explains a recent court verdict on the right to marry for trans persons

This main photograph is a close-up shot of two small paper banners held up by transgender activists at a media conference organized at the Kolkata Press Club on December 20, 2018 to protest against the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2018. The banners say “Withdraw Transgender Bill 2018” and “Stop the Trans Bill”. The hands and fingers of the persons holding up the banners can also be seen, some decorated with henna and nail polish and others ornamented with rings and bangles. Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Happenings Dec '18

Cruel déjà vu on transgender rights legislation

By Pawan Dhall

Anger erupts against Bill on transgender rights passed by Lok Sabha at Kolkata media conference

This graphic shows a banner prepared by the national campaign against the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016. The title says “Stop Passage of the Transgender ‘Rights’ Bill, 2016” and “Uphold NALSA Judgment and Standing Committee Recommendations”. Below the title, the text says: “This Bill criminalizes traditional Hijra livelihoods and families; encodes discrimination with lower penalties for violence against transgender people; upholds a government screening committee for transgender people; has an unscientific definition of ‘transgender’, and rejects our main need for reservation, non-discrimination and prevention of atrocities.” The banner is signed off as: “All India Transgender Community – Trans Resistance, Parliament Street, New Delhi, December 17, 2017”. To the left of the banner, next to the text, and extreme right corner are drawings of a pair of hands clapping in the style often used by Hijras and other transgender women (such clapping is termed as ‘thikri’ in Bengali and often signifies assertion and protest). The entire banner has a lavender and purple coloured background with text in black and white; the pairs of hands are flesh coloured with the nails painted red. Graphic credit: All India Transgender Community – Trans Resistance Campaign

Insight Dec '17

Pushback against wrongs in Bill on transgender rights

By Sayantan Datta

The campaign against the regressive Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 is not just an unprecedented mobilization of trans communities to resist the exclusionary nature of our legal system,...

This graphic shows a pair of scales with the left scale weighed down. The balance beam, tilted to the left, along with the central vertical stand, appears like a giant ‘T’ (as the first letter of ‘transgender’). A circle placed right at the centre of the balance beam just above the central stand can be visualized as a human face and makes the entire pair of scales look like a person with their arms stretched out, with one side weighed down. Just above the left scale is a thought cloud with text that says “Human Rights Violations”; a similar thought cloud below the right scale says “Court Verdicts, Boards, Bills . . .” The sense conveyed is that human rights violations are weighing down transgender people’s lives despite progressive court verdicts, legislations and welfare bodies for transgender communities in India. The pair of scales is shown inside a frame that implies confinement or lack of freedom. The entire graphic consisting of the scales, thought clouds and frame is itself placed inside another cloud shaped figure. The graphic colour scheme – a mix of deep blue for the scales, black for the text, and light and deep shades of grey interspersed with white for the other elements and the background – conveys a negative mood but not complete doom. Graphic credit: Pawan Dhall (graphic based on Clip Art by Microsoft Office).

Happenings Nov '17

Voicing out stasis in transgender lives

By Pawan Dhall

A trans* community hearing organized last week in Kolkata captured numerous grievances and complaints of government inaction across West Bengal. Pawan Dhall reports

Insight, Policy Matters Oct '16

Disorder to dysphoria – humanizing the trans citizen?

By Debjyoti Ghosh

Debjyoti Ghosh on the World Health Organisation’s plans to delist transgender identity as a mental disorder

Tagged Under: Trans Feminism

Pursuing resilience, embracing hope

Zenia, ‘Item’ and the future of the (western) queer dream

Dreams and demands

How my tomorrow should look like

In loving memory of discourse

Transgender rights in South Asia: Trends, crises and opportunities

Winds of change in marriage law?

Cruel déjà vu on transgender rights legislation

Pushback against wrongs in Bill on transgender rights

Voicing out stasis in transgender lives

Disorder to dysphoria – humanizing the trans citizen?

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