Kolkata: Yuma Narah, the representative of Arunachal Pradesh Queer Station, shed light on the challenges confronting the LGBTQIA+ community in Arunachal Pradesh, elucidating the socio-cultural nuances of the state.
This detailed discourse took place at the Final Advocacy Conclave held at the American Center here recently.
Titled ‘Voices of Diversity – Action for Inclusion,’ the event in Kolkata marked the culmination of the ‘Rainbow Dialogues: All in this Together’ project, which was implemented by the United States-based non-profit organization Story Center in collaboration with BRIDGE, India.
The programme was also supported by the U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata.
Narah articulated the hurdles faced by the LGBTQIA+ community in Arunachal Pradesh, including societal marginalization based on appearance, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, scarcity of educational institutions offering psychology programs, and insufficient remuneration for mental health professionals.
As a psychologist, Narah emphasized the urgent necessity for heightened awareness among mental health practitioners regarding LGBTQIAP+ specific stressors to enhance mental well-being for all.
Furthermore, Narah highlighted the inclusion of Arunachal Pradesh in the AP Queer Station, which signifies a significant milestone in the history of sexual and gender minorities in the state.
Sawang Wangchha, the project coordinator of AP Queer Station, expressed gratitude to BRIDGE, Story Center, and the U.S. Consulate General for engaging queer individuals and professionals from Arunachal Pradesh in the event.
Wangchha noted that the event empowered queer individuals from Arunachal to openly share their stories, fostering confidence and hope for more diverse events in the future aimed at uplifting LGBTQIA+ individuals.
With the visibility of Arunachal’s queer community on the rise, Wangchha anticipated greater inclusion from organizations to support their rights and dignity and to combat societal taboos.
Amy L Hill, the director of Silence Speaks at Story Center, U.S.A, and lead for the project, expressed pride in being part of the effort to bring visibility and awareness to LGBTQIA+ issues in East and Northeast India.
Elizabeth Lee, director of the American Center Kolkata, spoke about the significance of human rights and acknowledged the intertwined struggle of LGBTQI+ individuals for rights and recognition with the broader fight for human rights.
Prithviraj Nath, director of BRIDGE and country coordinator for the project, described the initiative as an attempt to create evidence, initiate, and strengthen conversations around inclusion and equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Nath highlighted the project’s success in creating networks, forging new paths, and garnering commitments from institutions across the seven project states to take tangible action towards inclusion and equal rights.
The event also featured screenings of short storytelling films developed during Rainbow Storytelling workshops, aimed at stimulating further public discourse.
At its core, the conclave focused on integrating LGBTQI+ community members into larger society, enabling them to live fulfilling lives of dignity, access, and equal rights.
The project employed a multi-layered approach, including a survey of LGBTQ+ individuals, employers, educators, and service providers to gauge perceptions and find workable solutions towards inclusion.
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