Chennai is our home, where we can live with dignity and freedom, says Jaya
A transperson reflects on the progress of LGBTQ+ inclusion in Chennai over the last two decades. The article highlights the city as a space where the community can live with increasing dignity and freedom.
Why it matters
It provides a personal perspective on the evolution of social acceptance and civil rights for marginalized communities in urban India.
Chennai means home. Not just a place where my house exists, but the city in itself is home. It’s a place where I came to know about Sahodaran, an NGO working to uplift LGBTQ people. I didn’t think people like me existed, but at Sahodaran, I saw all kinds of people and felt included.
In Chennai, we have our temples, churches, our music, and culture. But in the same place also exists us, transpersons, support organisations, other LGBTQ organisations, and of course, our pride marches. When we see our city over the last 20 years, we can see how much we have moved forward. The change might be slow, but it has been steady.
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