Mumbai group to release report of its study that challenges assumed notions of gender, sexuality and sex in five cities – Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Thrissur
By Team FI
LABIA, a queer feminist lesbian bi-sexual transgender collective in Mumbai is all set to release its much waited research project – Breaking the Binary – Understanding concerns and realities of queer persons assigned gender female at birth across a spectrum of lived gender identities.
The research initiative, which started in 2009, primarily focuses on the voices and stories of 50 people interviewed across the country. The study explores the circumstances of queer persons who were assigned the gender female at birth and were made to, or expected to, fit into society’s norms around gender and sexuality. It looks at their experiences with natal families and in school and their journeys through intimate relationships and jobs. The study also attempts to understand what happens to these identities in public spaces, and how they are treated by various state agencies. It also examines how and where they seek and find support, community, and a refuge from the violence and discrimination. The findings of this study, according to the group, question and challenge society’s basic assumptions about gender, sexuality and sex.
LABIA states that this research has given them “new insights into gender itself, which we feel are crucial additions to the current discourse in both queer and feminist spaces”. The study also “flags areas of particular concern, and highlights some necessary interventions”.
The dates and venues for the different cities are as follows:
Mumbai Saturday, 27th April
3:30 to 7:30 pm Mini Auditorium; SNDT Juhu Campus, Santacruz; Bombay
Kolkata Wednesday, 1st May
3:00 to 7:00 pm WBVHA Tower, 1stFlr, 580 Anandapur, Kolkata, Local host: Sappho for Equality
Delhi Saturday, 4th May
3:00 to 7:00 pm The Attic, 1st Floor, 36, Regal Building, New Delhi, Local hosts: Saheli, Qashti LBT
Bangalore Tuesday, 7th May
3:30 to 7:30 pm Vishranti Neelayam, Opp Hindu Office; Infantry Road, Bangalore, Local hosts: LesBiT, WHAQ. Alternative Law Forum
Thrissur, Thursday, 9th May To be confirmed Sahayatrika
Chennai Saturday, 11th May
5:00 pm to 9:00 pm Dhyanasram, Santhome, Chennai, Local hosts: The Shakthi Resource Center, East-West Center for Counseling Orinam, Nirangal, RIOV
For more details contact: stree.sangam@gmail.com