Sahodari Foundation's Pride Fiesta 2023 in Coimbatore. The program showcased the creative expression of art, music, poetry and film by the queer community, while also emphasizing the Transgenders Youth Internship Program by the foundation and the personal stories of trans people.
Coimbatore: The Sahodari Foundation conducted Pride Fiesta 2023, a pride month celebration with transgender activist Kalki Subramaniam, in Coimbatore on Sunday.
The programme witnessed the queer community's expression through art, music, poetry, and film.
Highlights on exclusive programs like Transgenders Youth Internship Program by the foundation were conveyed alongside the testimonies of trans people.
The event's main attraction was the screening of documentaries, including the recent award-winning film 'Thiru Thaai'. The casting crew included Meera Balan, the first trans woman artist, from Pollachi.
Kalki explained the purpose of the Pride festival and its journey in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Coimbatore. Kalki told Simplicity, "We are happy to witness a massive change in society in recognition of their identities." In the upcoming month, we aim to conduct Queer literature fest and Art Fest to expand the essence of this celebration."
She also mentioned that the Sahodari Foundation carried out inclusiveness programmes at corporate companies to increase employment prospects for the queer community.
She emphasized that their next major step is to initiate Entrepreneurship. Plans are in the works to improve and integrate transpeople with catering businesses in Coimbatore and Pollachi.
Moreover, despite several petitions and demonstrations, her substantial efforts in proposing a 1% reservation for Transpeople are still ongoing, with a positive response from the government.