Talks & Interfaces

Events that Varta Trust organized or participated in

Webinar: ‘PrEP 101: Understanding Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV’ – SAATHII, Varta Trust, MAC

Kolkata, April 24, 2023

Poster credit: SAATHII

Panel discussion: ‘Literature by LGBTQ Writers: Quest for Identity’ and other panels on queer-themed literature as part of ‘Festival of Letters 2023’ – Sahitya Akademi, Ministry of Culture, Government of India

Delhi, March 14-15, 2023

Photo credit: Sahitya Akademi

Webinar: ‘Support Groups and Community Building: Parents of Queer Children as Activists’ as part of ‘Queer Political Assemblages 3.0’ conference – Department of English, Jadavpur University

Kolkata, March 9, 2023

Panel discussion: ‘Education and Inclusivity’ as part of ‘Verstehen ‘23’ annual event – Department of Sociology, St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous)

Kolkata, February 27, 2023

Panel discussion: ‘Soch Badlein Baat Badlegi: Conversations, Film Release and Discussions’ – Swayam

Kolkata, December 1, 2022

Photo credit: Swayam

Webinar: ‘Pride Conclave’ – Samavesh Chamber of Commerce

Mumbai, September 23, 2022

Webinar: ‘TRANSforming Pride & Prejudice’ – Anudip Foundation for Social Welfare

Kolkata, July 30, 2022

Art workshop to mark completion of 100 issues of Varta webzine in April 2022 – Kalinath Angan, Varta Trust

Kolkata, July 3, 2022

Poster credit: Arkadeepra Purkayastha

Instagram LIVE session: ‘30 Days, 30 Personalities, 30 Minutes Pride Month Series’ – Xomonnoy

Guwahati, June 10, 2022

Adda to celebrate completion of 100 issues of Varta webzine in April 2022 combined with launch of Varta Trust’s online database on queer friendly COVID-19 services across India – Deshaj Café, Varta Trust

Kolkata, June 4, 2022

Photo credit: Swati Das

Webinar: ‘Bridging Academia and Activism: Stories from the Margins’ – a panel discussion to mark the completion of 100 monthly issues of Varta webzine in April 2022 – Varta Trust

Kolkata, May 28, 2022

Poster credit: Arkadeepra Purkayastha

Webinar: ‘Strengthening Youth Leadership – Communication, Networking, Linkages’ – SAATHII

Delhi, October 9, 2021

Webinar: Interactive session on human sexuality with third and final year students of Bishop’s College, Kolkata – Bishop’s College

Kolkata, September 23, 2021

Webinar on International Youth Day: ‘Front and Centre of the Pandemic – Young People’s Mental Health’ – Centre for Catalyzing Change

Delhi, August 12, 2021

Poster credit: Centre for Catalyzing Change

Conference: ‘All India Conclave for Queer Mobilization, 2021’ – Mobbera Foundation

Hyderabad, August 7-8, 2021

Poster credit: Mobbera Foundation

Webinar: ‘Pride Month Specials: Indian Healthcare Systems and LGBTQIA+ – Gender Identities and Sensitization’ – Omnicuris, Varta Trust

Bangalore, June 19, 2021

Poster credit: Omnicuris

Webinar: ‘PrideOps – An LGBTQIA+ Seminar in Honour of Pride Month’ – WriteOps, a student-run organization

Bangalore, June 12, 2021

Poster credit: WriteOps

Poster credit: WriteOps

Online book discussion: ‘Being LGBTIQ+ in 1990s Eastern India’ – conversation with Pawan Dhall on his book Out of Line and Offline: Queer Mobilizations in ‘90s Eastern India – Jindal Global Law School, O. P. Jindal Global University

Sonipat, June 5, 2021

Instagram LIVE session with recipients of the Kashish Arts Foundation’s We Care relief fund for transgender communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic – Kashish MIQFF. Poster credit: Kashish MIQFF

Mumbai, June 3, 2021

Poster credit: Kashish MIQFF

Webinar: ‘The Forgotten Epidemic HIV in Northeast-India’ – The Chinky Homo Project, SAATHII

Imphal, March 7, 2021

Poster credit: TCHP

Online roundtable: ‘Transgender Rights in South Asia – Trends, Crises & Opportunities’ – Partners for Law in Development, Feminist Inquiries into Rights and Equality (FIRE) Consortium, Varta Trust

Delhi, December 14, 2020

Online roundtable: ‘Livelihood and Skills Building Opportunities for Gender and Sexual Minorities in India’ – British Deputy High Commission, University of Sussex, Varta Trust

Kolkata, September 4, 2020

Webinar: ‘Rights of Transgender Persons: Understanding Gender and Law’ – Citizens’ Forum India

Kolkata, August 8, 2020

Poster credit: Citizens’ Forum India

Webinar: ‘Strengthening Civil Rights of LGBTQ+ Community – The Way Forward’ – Humsafar Trust

Mumbai, June 23, 2020

Webinar: ‘LGBTIQ+ Leadership and Community Priorities after India’s Lockdown: What Do We Need?’ – SAATHII. Webinar recording password: 2M&=%6Xi

Bhubaneswar, May 30, 2020

Poster credit: SAATHII

Webinar: ‘COVID-19 and LGBTQ Community’ – on the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia – British Deputy High Commission, Prantakatha, Varta Trust

Kolkata, May 17, 2020

Conference: ‘The Idea of the Indian Constitution – Chapter II’ (including workshop conducted by Varta Trust Gender Rights and the Classroom: Queer Story of Section 377 in Our Lives on February 8-9) – History for Peace, Seagull Foundation for the Arts; Takshila Educational Society; Delhi Public School Pune

Pune, February 7-9, 2020

Photo credit: DPS Pune

Launch of Queer Ink books Gulabi Baghi edited by owais, The Scholar written by Niladri R. Chatterjee, and Queer Potli: Memories, Imaginations and Re-imaginations of Urban Queer Spaces in India edited by Pawan Dhall – Deshaj Café, Queer Ink, Varta Trust

Kolkata, February 3, 2020

Graphic credit: Queer Ink

Conference: ‘Archiving the City’, including presentation on Varta Trust’s engagement in queer archival research – Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Hyderabad Urban Lab, Centre for Policy Research, Tacit Urban Knowledge Research Network (TURN research programme)

Kolkata, January 25, 2020

Orientation session on gender, sexuality and LGBTIQA issues for pranic healing practitioners – World Pranic Healing India Pvt. Ltd.

Kolkata, January 23, 2020

Photo credit: WPHI

Community meeting on legal aid concerns of queer community members in Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal as part of Varta Trust’s legal aid support group project (including interaction with officials of Dakshin Dinajpur District Legal Services Authority) – Dinajpur Natun Aalo Society, CREA, SAATHII, Varta Trust

Gangarampur, January 11, 2020

Photo credit: Sudeb Sadhu

Consultation: ‘Cross-Border Queers: Story of South Asian LGBTIQA Migrants’ – investigating the history of queer migration from India to the UK and elsewhere – British Deputy High Commission, University of Strathclyde, Loughborough University, Varta Trust

Kolkata, December 13, 2019

Conference on documenting and analyzing best practices for advancing human rights related to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics using tools of international law, domestic litigation, and apology / reparation: ‘Rising through the Challenge – International Dialogue’ (including presentation by Varta Trust Mobilizing Queer-Friendly Legal Resources towards Greater Access to Social Justice: Case Study from West Bengal, India on December 11) – ARC International; Jindal Global Law School, O. P. Jindal Global University

Sonipat, December 9-12, 2019

Photo credit: Anonymous

Panel discussion: ‘Child Rights and Gender Violence’ – terre des hommes Germany

Kolkata, December 7, 2019

Photo credit: TDH Germany

Panel discussion: ‘Hate Speech and Social Media: Gender and Sexual Minority Perspective’ – American Center, Grindr for Equality, CREA, SAATHII, Varta Trust

Kolkata, December 3, 2019

First public screening of film Dhara 377 Raye, September 6, 2018: Kichhu Joruri Katha (Section 377 Verdict, September 6, 2018 – Highlights and Implications) produced by Varta Trust under its legal aid support group project and discussion on implications of National Register of Citizens of India and related issues for trans community members in West Bengal – CREA, SAATHII, Varta Trust

Kolkata, November 9, 2019

Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Workshop on gender issues with members of West Bengal Youth Network of Campaign on Ecological Rights – Lake Gardens Women and Child Development Centre, terre des hommes Germany, West Bengal Youth Network of Campaign on Ecological Rights, Varta Trust

Kolkata, September 7-8, 2019 (with follow up workshop on December 21-22, 2019)

Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Interface with youth groups working in and around Kolkata to observe first anniversary of Honourable Supreme Court of India’s verdict on Section 377, Indian Penal Code – Thoughtshop Foundation, SAATHII

Kolkata, September 6, 2019

Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Seminar on inclusion of gender and sexuality diversity in sports – Academic Wing of Sports Authority of India, Netaji Subhas Eastern Centre

Kolkata, August 13, 2019

Photo credit: Sports Authority of India

Consultation on assessing self-care and burnout prevention needs of gender, sexuality and health activists – Nazariya: A Queer Feminist Resource Group, TARSHI

Hyderabad, July 27-29, 2019

Workshop on gender and sexuality sensitization with post-graduate students of social sciences – West Bengal State University, Varta Trust

Barasat, June 24-25, 2019

Consultation: ‘Queering the law: Making Indian Laws LGBT+ Inclusive’ – Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy

Delhi, May 25, 2019

Conference: ‘The Passover Human Rights and Human Dignity Conference’ – Asian University for Women

Chittagong, April 19-21, 2019

Poster credit: Asian University for Women

First session of Bishop’s College and Varta Trust’s 'Queer Study Circle' – Bishop’s College, Varta Trust

Kolkata, April 11, 2019

Photo credit: Bishop’s College

Conference: ‘ILGA World Conference 2019’, including presentation of case study on development of Varta Trust’s online database on queer friendly sexual health, mental health and legal aid service providers in India on March 21, 2019 – International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association

Wellington, March 18-22, 2019

Photo credit: ILGA

Workshop on queer communities’ struggles with loneliness and other mental health issues, and legal concerns of queer communities in India after reading down of Section 377, Indian Penal Code; also announcement of Bishop’s College and Varta Trust Study Circle on Gender and Sexuality – Bishop’s College, Pride Circle Kolkata, CREA, SAATHII, Varta Trust

Kolkata, March 9, 2019

Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Consultation: ‘Universal Health Coverage’ – Kolkata Rista, World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Office for India

Kolkata, March 7, 2019

Sessions titled ‘Listening to Stories from the Community’, ‘Medical Perspectives’, ‘Human Rights Perspectives’, ‘Symposium on Faith and Rights: Engaging with Human Sexuality and Gender Identities’ and cultural evening performances as part of four-day workshop ‘Training Module for Theological Educators on Human Sexuality and Gender Identities’ – NCCI, Varta Trust, Amitie’ Trust

Kolkata, January 21-24, 2019

Photo credit: NCCI

Workshop: ‘Gender and Inclusion’ with members of West Bengal Youth Network of Campaign on Ecological Rights – terre des hommes Germany, West Bengal Youth Network of Campaign on Ecological Rights

Kolkata, January 19, 2019

Photo credit: Siraj

Consultation: ‘LGBTIQA+ Workplace Inclusion in India’ – AMaNA, ETA, SAATHII, British Deputy High Commission, University of Sussex, Varta Trust

Kolkata, January 17, 2019

Storytelling sessions: ‘Human Library Kolkata – Chapter 1’ – Human Library Kolkata and partner agencies (including Varta Trust). Photo credit: Human Library Kolkata

Kolkata, January 6, 2019

Photo credit: Human Library Kolkata

Community meeting on legal aid concerns of queer community members in Murshidabad district of West Bengal as part of Varta Trust’s legal aid support group project – Madhya Banglar Sangram, CREA, SAATHII, Varta Trust

Baharampur, December 15, 2018

Photo credit: Madhya Banglar Sangram

Panel discussion on empowerment of women and queer people on Human Rights Day 2018 and 70th anniversary of signing of Universal Declaration for Human Rights – Consulate General of France, Varta Trust

Kolkata, December 10, 2018

Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Conference: ‘Digital Citizen Summit 2018’ (including panel discussion ‘How Do LGBTQ+ Activists Mobilise the Internet to Create Safe Spaces?’ on November 1) – Digital Empowerment Foundation, The Internet Society (November 1 panel discussion organized by Feminism in India, Varta Trust)

Delhi, November 1-2, 2018

Photo credit: Digital Empowerment Foundation

Panel discussion and workshop: ‘Understanding LGBTIQ Issues’ as part of three-day meeting of project partners of terre des hommes Germany – ‘Emerging Socioeconomic Issues and Implications for Child Rights’

Kolkata, October 30-31, 2018

Photo credit: TDH Germany

Discussion: ‘IL/Legal Kolkata’ – Pride Circle Kolkata Meetup on Honourable Supreme Court of India’s verdict on Section 377, Indian Penal Code – Pride Circle Kolkata, The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata

Kolkata, September 6, 2018

‘Queering Mental Health – Symposium on Mental Health Concerns of Queer People in India’ (also Varta webzine’s fifth birthday event) – Grindr For Equality, Sruti Disability Rights Centre, Varta Trust

Kolkata, August 4, 2018

Photo credit: Jia Mata

Workshop: ‘Legal Awareness and Sexual Health among People of Marginalized Gender / Sexual Identities’ – Nadia Ranaghat Sampriti Society

Ranaghat, July 15, 2018

Queer Planner 2018 launch and conversations on queer histories - Nazariya, Intercultural Resources

Delhi, February 10, 2018

Poster credit: Nazariya

Discussion: Promoting economic, social and cultural rights in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity – International Commission of Jurists

Delhi, December 9, 2017

Film screenings on queer issues: ‘Kashish Forward’ – Department of Sociology, Presidency University, Kashish Arts Foundation, Movies That Matter

Kolkata, October 16, 2017

Poster credit: Kashish Arts Foundation

Meeting to compile feedback on Draft Rules & Regulations for Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 – Sruti Disability Rights Centre, Varta Trust

Kolkata, October 10, 2017

National conference: ‘Ageing, Ageism and Cultures’ – Department of English, Centre for Advanced Studies, Jadavpur University

Kolkata, September 22, 2017

‘Queer Lives of the Media – A Panel Discussion’ (also Varta webzine’s fourth birthday event) – Alliance Francaise du Bengale, Kinky Collective, Kolkata Rainbow Pride Festival, Varta Trust

Kolkata, August 5, 2017

Photo credit: Kaushik Gupta

Book launch, panel discussion and film screening: ‘Books, Films and IDAHOBIT 2017’ – Alliance Française du Bengale, Varta Trust

Kolkata, May 4, 2017

Photo credit: Arunabha Hazra

Workshop on relationship therapy – addiction, attraction, abuse – Crystal Minds, Kolkata

Kolkata, January 31, 2017

Photo credit: Crystal Minds

Eastern India queer community consultation on social, economic, health and legal ground realities – Solidarity Foundation, Varta Trust

Kolkata, November 19, 2016

Workshop on gender sensitivity and sexuality with students and faculty – GSCASH, Haldia Government College; Varta Trust

Haldia, September 28, 2016

Workshop on gender and sexuality diversity with church leaders and theologians – ESHA Programme, NCCI; Bishop’s College; Varta Trust

Kolkata, September 13, 2016

Photo credit: NCCI

Panel discussion and poster making workshop: ‘A Conversation: Building Consent and Gender Rights’ – American Center, The Consentwalas

Kolkata, August 27, 2016

Photo credit: American Center

Panel discussion: ‘Advocates for Equality: An LGBTI Conversation’ – American Center, Varta Trust

Kolkata, June 22, 2016

Photo credit: American Center

Roundtable conference on HIV/AIDS – US Consulate, Kolkata

Kolkata, May 19, 2016

Meeting of church leaders, theologians and queer activists on gender and sexuality diversity – ESHA Programme, NCCI

Bangalore, April 19-20, 2016

Film screenings: ‘Exploring Gender, Sexuality and More through Films’ – Prof. Pratulananda Das, Department of Mathematics, Jadavpur University; Varta Trust

Kolkata, February 25, 2016

Panel discussion: ‘Whoever Voluntarily . . . Decoding Consent’ – CWF, Kinky Collective, Varta Trust

Kolkata, February 20, 2016

Panel discussion: ‘Girls, Children and Women’s Rights are Human Rights 365 Days’ – Diocese of Calcutta, AICCW, Episcopal Church of Scotland

Kolkata, December 10, 2015

Panel discussion on World AIDS Day: ‘Current Global Scenario in Achieving the Goal of Getting to Zero’ – US Consulate, Kolkata; Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals

Kolkata, December 1, 2015