Dear friends,
Do you know that the Transgenders are the most neglected and stigmatised people in our society? They are completely marginalized and and pushed to the extremes. While some of them live a dignified life oweing to education and family acceptance, many of them go for begging and sex work .
The Foundation is working towards providing a dignified life for Transgenders with programs which would initiate high self esteem, self acceptance and social acceptance among Transgenders.
The Foundation is also involved in creating awareness to the public, especially the youth, in accepting and living with gender variant people. For this purpose we are in the process of publishing a magazine for Transgenders in Tamil called 'Sahodari' (Sister). Kindly support us in this wonderful effort.
Dear friends, I believe, in a matter of few years the Transgender community can live with dignity and peace - with respect and knowledge.
Lovingly, Kalki
Mobile : 98847 00409
What we did?
Sahodari’s event ‘Transwomen, the Respectables (The hunt for dignity) – a big success.
In the minds of the public, there are certain myths and doubts on Transgender women. The recent news in Tamilnadu about transgenders ‘compelling a boy and making him a woman’ could damage the empowerment and acceptance of transgenders in the mainstream society. Sahodari decided to hold a public event in its own way and tell the world who we are and clear their doubts.
On April 19th 09, at around 5:30 pm at the parking street at Marina beach adjacent to Mahatma Gandhi statue, we held an open public gathering of philanthropists, students, poets and social workers and created a space where they could show their support to Transgender women.
The event was named in Tamil as ‘Thirunangaikal Mathippukkuriyavarkal’ – meaning ‘Transwomen, the Respectables’. A hunt for dignity. An event to sensitize the public about our struggles and gain their understanding and support.
Read more..
What we intent to do next?
Sahodari will launch the Tamil transgender matrimonial web portal Thirunangai.com at a pressmeet in Chennai and in Coimbatore.
Should we have the official status of a woman or a Thirunangai (Transgender woman) is a recent debate within the transcommunity of Tamilnadu.
However there is no second opinion when it comes to matrimonial ties, a husband, in-laws and a life 'less ordinary'.Transwomen always are/have been in relationships with men like anyother women.When a man begins to live with with a transwoman, he respect her and is absolutely free spirited. She is powerful, intelligent, understanding and does not depend on him for her basic needs. She is the perfect soulmate.
Whether they are in a live-in relationship or in a matrimonial relationship, there is no assurance that the bonding will sustain and be a long term one. Men slip away and break the relationship so easily. Transwomen become the victims of a broken relationship, feel cheated and used. Though they are women in every sense and sensuality, their relationships with men have no social security.
A transsexual woman is no different from a biological woman. So, why should she be victimized? She must have the right to marry, right to adopt a child, right to inherit property from her husand, right to claim all the benifits that our social system provides for a biological woman. No compromises.
Transgender people are a powerful minority who must be recognized . We not only need equal rights in marriage but also in adoption as well. Thirunangai.com is an initiative to research the possibilities of men's response towards marrying transsexual women. The website is a portal with profiles of transwomen who are looking for their life partners. This initiative will raise questions on marriage and adoption rights for transgender people.
LAUNCH: The website will be launched in Chennai on the 4th week of June 09.