volunteering with transgenders

onajourneyagain · Mar 4th, 2009, 12:47

I'm going to be doing some HIV counselling in Tamil Nadu from July. Working with India Volunteer Care, the focus is on transgenders in India. I'm particualry interested in learning a bit about the legal rights and status of transgenders before starting? Any thoughts welcome...

Nick-H · Mar 4th, 2009, 18:07

Well, I would have thought you should be properly briefed by your organisation, but my guess is that the answer is probably, "none".

Welcome to the site, and do share what you learn and experience with us.

(
<remembers I used to be a moderator>

...bearing in mind that it is against site rules to promote any specific charity.
)

Haylo · Mar 4th, 2009, 18:25

This is a subject that interested me, if you google "Hijra" you will find a wealth of information about transgender issues in India.

There are plenty of online resources dealing with their lack of status and opportunities, which results in their commonly living in "family" groups and making a living through what is basically "extortion lite".

ananda2193 · Mar 4th, 2009, 18:57

Saw something on tv not long ago about them and they are outcasts in society. Mostly earning a living by begging. Did encounter some on a train ride once, asking for alms. Some Indians in my berth gave a little, but chuckled when they left.

There's one temple somewhere in India that they go to that is dedicated to the god of Hizras. Where they can go and feel accepted and not like an outcast. Don't remember where it is but saw it on tv.

Oh yeah, and they make a pilgrimage to this temple to have a ceremony to marry this God.

haydn · Mar 8th, 2009, 13:39

who is the god? male or female?! or is that a silly question to ask about an indian deity?!
shantih

ananda2193 · Mar 8th, 2009, 20:22

Not sure, but since it's their God, I suppose it's both. Maybe if you google, something will come up.

littlekrishna · Jun 3rd, 2009, 05:09

Dear Ananda,
Hijra's are usually devotees of the mother goddess Bahuchara Mata, and/or Shiva.

Penelope Gan · Jun 15th, 2009, 16:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by onajourneyagain

I'm going to be doing some HIV counselling in Tamil Nadu from July. Working with India Volunteer Care, the focus is on transgenders in India. I'm particualry interested in learning a bit about the legal rights and status of transgenders before starting? Any thoughts welcome...

hi there, I volunteer for the Malaysian AIDS Council here and during the recent World Memorial Day I was introduced to a lovely gentleman who works with TS full time in Sth India. He was in Malaysia for cross-cultural learning. I could give you his contact if you are interested but I am not sure how to email you directly and do not want to expose his personal information in an open forum - I hope everyone understands my view here.

haydn · Jul 8th, 2009, 06:05

Apparently Shiva is Ammai-Appar, mother and father combined. On Elephanta island is Ardhanarishvara (half-woman-god) which depicts Siva-Shakti in the body of a double gendered deity.
(just reading 'Aids Sutra, untold stories from India'...some amazing and harrowing stories...
shanthi

Mar 4th, 2009, 12:47	#1
onajourneyagain Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: london uk Posts: 1	volunteering with transgenders I'm going to be doing some HIV counselling in Tamil Nadu from July. Working with India Volunteer Care, the focus is on transgenders in India. I'm particualry interested in learning a bit about the legal rights and status of transgenders before starting? Any thoughts welcome...

Mar 4th, 2009, 18:25	#3
Haylo Structural Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Middle East and heading Easter Posts: 5,804	This is a subject that interested me, if you google "Hijra" you will find a wealth of information about transgender issues in India. There are plenty of online resources dealing with their lack of status and opportunities, which results in their commonly living in "family" groups and making a living through what is basically "extortion lite". __________________ The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

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Mar 4th, 2009, 18:07	#2
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,209	Well, I would have thought you should be properly briefed by your organisation, but my guess is that the answer is probably, "none". Welcome to the site, and do share what you learn and experience with us. ( <remembers I used to be a moderator> ...bearing in mind that it is against site rules to promote any specific charity. )

Mar 4th, 2009, 18:57	#4
ananda2193 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: you essay Posts: 1,904	Saw something on tv not long ago about them and they are outcasts in society. Mostly earning a living by begging. Did encounter some on a train ride once, asking for alms. Some Indians in my berth gave a little, but chuckled when they left. There's one temple somewhere in India that they go to that is dedicated to the god of Hizras. Where they can go and feel accepted and not like an outcast. Don't remember where it is but saw it on tv. Oh yeah, and they make a pilgrimage to this temple to have a ceremony to marry this God.

Mar 8th, 2009, 13:39	#5
haydn yumm! Join Date: May 2007 Location: blue mountains Posts: 169	who is the god? male or female?! or is that a silly question to ask about an indian deity?! shantih

Mar 8th, 2009, 20:22	#6
ananda2193 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: you essay Posts: 1,904	Not sure, but since it's their God, I suppose it's both. Maybe if you google, something will come up.

Jun 3rd, 2009, 05:09	#7
littlekrishna Account Closed Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: India Posts: 7	Dear Ananda, Hijra's are usually devotees of the mother goddess Bahuchara Mata, and/or Shiva.

Jul 8th, 2009, 06:05	#9
haydn yumm! Join Date: May 2007 Location: blue mountains Posts: 169	Apparently Shiva is Ammai-Appar, mother and father combined. On Elephanta island is Ardhanarishvara (half-woman-god) which depicts Siva-Shakti in the body of a double gendered deity. (just reading 'Aids Sutra, untold stories from India'...some amazing and harrowing stories... shanthi