XUKIA
XUKIA is a queer collective based in Assam, India that works for LGBT issues in the region. It is one of the first Queer Collectives to come up in the North East India. [1]
History
After the Supreme Court Judgement on 11th December, 2013 which reinstated Section 377, IPC, thereby criminalizing homosexual acts, protests were held all over the world. On December 15th, 2013, a Global Day of Rage was observed simultaneously in a number of cities around the world. [2][3] A group of people, mostly young women came together and organized a protest in Guwahati also to mark the Global Day of Rage. This was the first ever public rally/protest for LGBT issues in the city.[4] The same group of individuals later went on to organise the Queer Pride Guwahati on 9th February, 2014, which was the first LGBT Pride Parade in the entire North East Region.[5][6] After the success of the Pride Parade, Xukia was created as a collective to take forward the LGBTIQ activism in the region.[1]
Work
Soon after its inception, Xukia organised Dialogues: Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Film and Video Festival in Guwahati from 8th to 10th August, which was a traveling version of the annual film festival held in Kolkata. The LGBT film fest, another first for the region was organized by Xukia in collaboration with Sappho for Equality, Pratyay Gender Trust, Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhawan Kolkata and SAHRA India . The festival screened 10 movies and 2 collections of short films from international film festivals like the Dresden and Berlinale. [1][7]
Xukia has also organized film screenings in schools and colleges in the city.
See also
References
- ^ a b c Gaurav Das. "NE's First Gay Film Festival to screen 10 movies", The Times of India, 10 August , 2014
- ^ Daniel Reynolds, "India's Sodomy Ban Incites 'Day of Rage' Among Activists", The Advocate , 13 December 2013
- ^ Ishita Bhatia, Soumya Pillai "Protestors mark ‘global day of rage’ against Section 377", The Hindustan Times ,15 December, 2013
- ^ Gaurav Das "First gay rights rally in city", The Times of India, 16 December, 2013
- ^ "LGBTs parade for pride in Guwahati", The Times of India, 10 February , 2014
- ^ Rajiv Konwar "First pride parade in Guwahati- LGBT community marches for life of dignity ", The Telegraph (Calcutta), 10 February , 2014
- ^ Kumam Davidson "1st LGBT Film and Video Festival of Guwahati to begin on Aug 8", Gaylaxy , 1 August, 2014