Trans Indians mark International Women’s Day
A transgender shelter and crisis intervention centre in Kolkata, India is celebrating International Women’s Day tomorrow by launching an awareness campaign.
The home, “Prothama,” operates in association with People Like Us (PLUS) Kolkata and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to reach out to young transgender individuals from socially and economically disadvantaged sections of society.
The ‘All Equal All Different’campaign hopes to encourage young transgender people to “take control and make decisions” and will be officially launched by the lighting of a candle.
As well as a film screening, there will be an open discussion forum held at the shelter with women from different backgrounds including film makers, social activists, sex trade workers and local female politicians.
International Women’s Day has been observed since the early 1900s when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay and voting rights.
Since then it has been celebrated throughout the world and is even an official holiday in countries such as Armenia, Russia, Bulgaria and Kazakhstan.
The tradition sees men honouring the women in their lives with flowers and small gifts and has the equivalent status of Mother’s Day in some parts of the world.
