Queer Women and the Law in India

This particular paper will review the position of queer women in

Indian law and their position in the campaigns/struggles around the
same. Therefore, before we begin it is important to define what we mean
by the term queer women. Politically, the word queer is often used
among some activists in India to mean any person who questions norms
of gender and sexality. While the strength of this definition lies in its
potential iclusivity, the need to state more exclusive identity tags as it
were are important in many contexts such as in this very paper. Read More

Report On The Human Rights Violations

Against Transgenders In Karnataka, 2014
Violence faced by the transgender community is often
invisible or under reported in mainstream media.
Further, an insensitive criminal justice system makes
reporting even more difficult. In this report, my effort
has been to document instances of violence faced by the
members of transgender community in the recent past by way
of testimonies by the members from the transgender community. These testimonies speak volumes by themselves. Read More

Ruling in India Not the Last Word

Apex Court. Activists, allies, and members of the community were clear that all that was done after 2009
when the Delhi High Court granted full and complete
citizenship to queer persons will not be undone by the
Supreme
Court.
The
community
showed
a
complete refusal to be pushed back into the
closet
or
be
dismissed
as
the
minuscule
minority,
a
phrase
used
by
the
Supreme Court to describe them. Read More

We Dissent
The Supreme Courts decision in Suresh Kumar Kaushal &
Another v. Naz Foundation & Others is an unprecedented ruling,
deciding to turn the clock back to pre-July 2009, when LGBT
persons were criminalized by section 377 of the Indian Penal
Code. On close reading, the judgment is based on a narrow and
blindfolded interpretation of the law, ignoring the momentous
changes in society and notions of morality that India is witnessing.
Further, the judgment, in many parts, relies on shaky precedent,
does not explain the logic of its conclusions, and is surprisingly dismissive of substantial evidence that was placed before it. Read More

Striving for Magic in the

City of Words
Constitutions are not merely charters of governance; they are also
ethical documents that lay down a collective commitment
that members of a community make to a set of principles as
well as to each other about the kind of life they wish to pursue. Thus, the political form that we choose to govern our
societies is not separable from the way in which we choose
to govern ourselves as individuals and in our relation to others. Who or how I choose to love is, then, both an individual choice and a question of political form and expression.
Following Jawaharlal Nehrus quote included in the courts
judgement of words being magic things, one way of reading the Constitution is to see it as a city of words Read More

A New Language Of Morality:

From The Trial Of Nowshirwan To The Judgment In Naz
Foundation
The historic injustice of the law lay not only in sanctioning
arbitrary state action against LGBT persons but more
fundamentally in setting in place a regime of citizenship wherein the lives and loves of LGBT persons were consistently read within the framework
of unnatural sexual acts. The question of love or
intimacy, desire or longing was always reduced in the judicial register to carnal intercourse against the order of nature. Read More

Love in the face of hate

On July 2, 2009, in Court Room No 1, Chief Justice AP
Shah of the Delhi High Court deli­vered his judgment in the case of Naz Foundation vs Government of
Delhi and Others. He read, The notion of equality in
the Indian Constitution flows from the Objective Resolution moved by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on December 13, 1946. Nehru, in his speech... said. Words
are magic things often enough, but even the magic
of words, sometimes cannot convey the magic of the
human spirit and of a Nations Passion... Read More

Not just His and Hers

Speaking of the persecution of transgender individuals

in India, the Supreme Court observes that the moral
failure lies in societys unwillingness to contain or embrace
different gender identities and expressions. With this
opening acknowledgment, the court proceeds to craft a
charter of transgender rights in its recent judgment in
National Legal Services Authority (Nalsa) vs Union of
India. Ill elaborate on one strand of the decision in particular the legal recognition of transgender identity. At the outset, the judges clarify that they are talking
of two kinds of identity claims: one, where transgenders may be treated as a third gender, and two, where
they may decide their gender within the male/ female
binary, regardless of their biological sex. Read More

Section 377 and the biases against sexual minorities in India

Gowthaman Ranganathan of the Alternative Law Forum points out, Section 377 has a moral intent and
isnt essentially concerned about protection against sexual abuse. In using it to book those accused of
child abuse perhaps, a section of law-enforcers are giving in to this moral bias - equating homosexuality with paedophilia. Its almost like saying that someone who cheats, can definitely kill! Read More
Bring back our public spaces
Vinay Srinivasa of the Alternative Law Forum (ALF) says, Neighbourhood parks have many restrictive rules; theyre shut during noons and nights. Only a certain class of people are allowed, one cant
eat there, the list is endless. He explains that these rules get enforced with ease as Government bodies would rather please residents of nearby colonies than working class people who often dont have
the agency to complain. Vinay concludes, The Government is supposed to be a caretaker of the commons, but instead it is acting like the owner. Instead of ensuring access, theyre limiting it. Read More
Anti Superstition Bill to be reviewed
Retired judge Shivaraj Patil will head a review committee to recommend changes in the Anti-Superstition Bill proposed by the state government, said writer Chandrashekar Patil here on
Sunday.At a programme organised by the Forum for Anti-Superstition Bill, he said after the
committee makes its recommendations, the government will be urged to enact the Bill.Gautham of Alternative Law Forum said the draft Bill required more clarity as possibilities of it being misinterpreted to oppress the already subjugated communities were very high. Read More
Rare Law invoked In Case Of Gay Man Extorted For Seeking Sex
Three men who threatened a gay man and robbed him now stand to face a charge under a hitherto little known provision of the law dealing with extortion-related harassment.On October 9, a magistrates court allowed the prosecutions application to frame a charge under
section 389 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).The provision prescribes a maximum punishment of 10 years and a fine if a person is found guilty of threatening to accuse someone of offences like murder, rape or attempt to murder, in order to commit extortion. Read More

Queer movement has to look beyond LGBT rights

Murthy was speaking at a modest community hall on Infantry Road, where the LGBT community had gathered on Friday to look back at the movement in the city - In the name
of pride. They felt they could no longer restrain themselves to the cause of LGBT rights.
Why is it important for the LGBT community to look beyond itself? Because the notion of unnatural in our country is broader than just sexuality, said Arvind Narrain, the Geneva director of
ARC International and founder-member, Alternative Law Forum. In India when we talk about
the idea of what is against the order of nature, its not just sexuality. Even inter-caste and inter-religious relationships are under attack. A persons right to love is under attack, he said. Read More
Indian Silicon Valleys threatened social fabric
This last story is remarkable, simply for the banality of its horrors. Matthew Gordon was sitting
at a restaurant with his girlfriend when he was approached by a man asking him about his tattoo. Before they know it, the couple was surrounded by 25 men who refused to allow them to
leave the premises of the eatery, threatening to skin Matthews leg to remove the tattoo. When
the police did intervene, it wasnt to put an end to the spectacle: the personnel, on the other
hand, gave the duo a lecture on Hindu values. Matthew was ultimately made to write an apology
to the sub-inspector of Ashok Nagar police station, one worth reproducing in full. Read More

Muzafarnagar Baaqi Hai

This film explores these questions in all its multi-faceted complexity wherein Muzaffarnagar becomes a site, witness to the intermeshing of all these factors to culminate in a bloody riot. After 2 years, this film remains to be seen more urgently than ever.
The recent events in Dadri and subsequent news around the holy cow have unsettled, angered
and perplexed many of us. On the one hand, we are stunned at the violence. On the other hand,
this model of inciting communal tension for electoral gains is not new. Director, Nakul Sigh
Sawhney was Bangalore and traveled to other parts of Karnataka for screenings to talk about his
experience making the film, how he is dealing with its impact and what his own political context.

State-wide rally and Protest

Karnataka Communcal Harmony Forum, Central Commitee initiated a State Wide Rally and Protest on October the 9th against the two incidents of brutal violence one in the name of religion,
the other in the name of caste. The crime committed by Mohammed Ikhlaq Saifi he had meat in
his refrigerator. Ik\laq was a middle-aged man living in Bishad village of Dadri Taluk in Gautama Buddha Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh. He lived with his mother Askari (70), wife Ikraman (52), younger son Danish (21) and a daughter Sahista (17). A poor resident of over 70 years in
the village, his familys economic condition improved when his older son Sartaj joined the air-force.
Round Table Conference- Towards a People Friendly Bus System
The conference was organised by the Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedika (BBPV). It aimed to discuss the
means to build a reliable, affordable and comfortable bus system in Bangalore, which is a fundamental
right in itself and enables all sections of people to realise their right to work, education and a meaningful
social life and leisure. Additionally, BBPV believes that encouraging public transport will attract vehicle
users to the bus, thus reducing the overall traffic on the road.The BBPV has been working on the rights
of bus commuters for almost two years now. We felt it was important to bring out a manifesto of bus
commuters, highlighting the needs of all bus commuters.The Round Table will comprise of representatives of the government, academia and civil society, who will respond to the Bus Commuters Manifesto

In the Name of Pride

2015 marks 8 years of Bangalore Pride. The stories of queer activism in the city, of course, significantly predate Pride As we proceed in an increasingly polarized national context where re-criminalization
is only a fragment of the issues facing us, it is worthwhile to look back at prior activist struggles in the
city. How do stories from the past echo in todays context, how do we learn from our shared histories?
CSMR presented a conversation with 3 activists: Akkai Padmashali, Arvind Narrain and Sumathi Murthy who have been involved in the landscape of queer activism in the city. Gowthaman Ranganathan
and Danish Sheikh will moderate a discussion with them as they reflect on their experiences of intervention in different spaces, and what our future strategies might gain in learning from these stories.
In the Name of Pride
2015 marks 8 years of Bangalore Pride. The stories of queer activism in the city, of course, significantly predate Pride As we proceed in an increasingly polarized national context where re-criminalization is only a
fragment of the issues facing us, it is worthwhile to look back at prior activist struggles in the city. How do
stories from the past echo in todays context, how do we learn from our shared histories?
CSMR presented a conversation with 3 activists: Akkai Padmashali, Arvind Narrain and Sumathi Murthy
who have been involved in the landscape of queer activism in the city. Gowthaman Ranganathan and Danish
Sheikh will moderate a discussion with them as they reflect on their experiences of intervention in different
spaces, and what our future strategies might gain in learning from these stories.

Pride Calendar of Events

I look at the unniappam kadai doling out little spheres

of jaggery flavoured sweetmeats, Rs. 20 a plate. Across
the road is the Bombay Chaat Corner. Pani puri, bhel
puri and pau bhaji all served with a local tinge,
on disposable plates lined with vazha elai. A little
ahead, I see a netted spatula pull out of boiling oil,
plantain bhajjis, vadai and bonda. Further ahead is
mutta bhajji, chicken fried rice and fish fry. NV.
Forbidden food. Read the rest of Gowthamans stories

22nd November, 2015, 2pm

Pride March Route
Starting Point Tulsi Park AKA Lokmanya Tilak Park

Head west on Tank Bund Rd toward Gubbi Thotadappa Road. Pass by Hotel Mayura
Turn right onto Gubbi Thotadappa Road. Pass by Hotel City Centaur International
Walk towards Sangolli Rayanna Circle
Head north on D Devraja Urs Circle
Exit the roundabout onto Seshadri RdPass by Sangolli Rayanna Statue
Head east on Seshadri Rd
Turn right onto Kalidasa Marg. Pass by the park
Head southeast on Ramachandra Rd toward Palace Road. Pass by the park
Head southwest on Palace Rd toward District Office Rd/KG Road. Pass by
Central Colege (on the left)
Turn left onto District Office Rd
Head southeast on District Office Rd toward Corporation Circle. Pass by Axis Bank
Continue onto Corporation Circle. Pass by Hudson Memorial Church (on the left)
Continue onto Mysore Rd
Turn left onto Dharmaraya Swamy Temple Rd/Kalinga Rao Rd
Turn right onto Mysore Road. Pass by Unity Times

Halt at Sir Puttanna Chetty Town Hall

End Point - Sir Puttanna Chetty Town Hall Google Map- Click Here

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