Pehchan Archives - India HIV/AIDS Alliance

A Tribute to Agniva Lahiri: A Life That Inspired

To lose a friend is the greatest of all losses. − Pubilius Syrus It is with great sadness that we write in tribute for Agniva Lahiri whose strength and valour moved and inspired us always. Agniva was only 37 years old when she passed away on Sep

Act Against Homophobia and Transphobia!

May 17th is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, and the theme for 2016 is “Mental Health & Wellbeing.” As I hear this theme, I am reminded of a couple of incidents that stick in my mind: In 2000, a young man approached

We Live on a Rainbow: IDAHOT 2015

“None of us should face discrimination based on what we are or whom we love.” — Max Baucus, US Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, 2014 Since the Indian Supreme Court’s judgment in April 2014 recognizing the rights of the countr

Too Miniscule for Human Rights and Basic Dignity?

“…a miniscule fraction of the country’s population constitute lesbians, gays, bisexuals or transgenders…” From the Supreme Court of India’s ruling in December 2013 upholding Section 377 of Indian Penal Code and re-criminalizing homosexua

Gone with the Wind: A Year of Rights for Transgenders

On April 15th 2014, India witnessed a historic victory for the Third Gender movement. The Supreme Court of India recognized transgenders as the “Third Gender” and protected our rights. The Court gave specific directions to central and state gove

Treat Me with Respect!

An HIV-positive MSM commented during a Pehchan-supported study on discrimination and stigma in healthcare settings: “I went to a government hospital. The doctor did not treat me well when he learned about my HIV status. He looked at me like I had

The Visibility of Who We Are

We have all read that we need to treat transgenders like everyone else…but do you? Every day transgenders and hijras are heckled, cornered, disowned by their families and thrown out on the streets. The journey towards living openly and authentical

I’m a Gay Man, and I am Not a Criminal

You don’t always have to commit a crime to be treated as a criminal in India; sometimes just being yourself will suffice. When two cops saw me all alone in Nehru Park, it was past closing time. The park is a well-known cruising point among gay men

First Anniversary of India’s Gay Sex Ban: LGBT community gathers to protest human rights violations

The Supreme Court of India recriminalised same-sex sexual behaviour on 11 December 2013. The consequences of this judgment have been multiple and far-reaching. Over the past year, this ruling has increased the vulnerability of gender and sexual min

It’s not about us and them – If it affects a few, it affects us all

It was an eventful Sunday evening. I had just returned from the Pride walk in Delhi. The colours and slogans of the day were still fresh in my head when I turned on the TV. Normal Heart was playing and it could not have been better timed. Today,

Does My Community Count?

As I stood on the podium at Indraprastha University in New Delhi, I was expected to tell my personal story as a hijra who is also a successful professional. Since TEDx talks are made by inspiring people, I was all geared to tell my story in which I

International Transgender Remembrance Day 2014

2014 has been a milestone year for transgenders in India. Earlier this year, the third gender was given legal recognition by the Supreme Court of India, an action that inspired discussions in the mainstream on transphobia, gender identity, and the

Truth Prevails: Satyamev Jayate and Me

In a country where most people can’t cope with ‘anomalies’ in sexual and gender identities, Satyamev Jayate has made visible the hidden struggle endured by millions of Indians. An open discussion on national television on alternative sexualitie

It’s Time We Talk about LGBT Rights

In India, far too many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people live lives of secrecy and shame. Those who reveal their sexual identities or deviate from gender norms face social rejection, economic marginalization, and physical violenc

Community Catalysts: Pehchan Counselors Transform Lives

Outreach workers and counselors in our Global Fund-supported Pehchan programme play an invaluable and often transformational role for the MSM, transgender and hijra community members they serve. Not only do they ensure that at-risk community memb

Do I Count?

I was born and raised in Kolkata, when it was still called Calcutta, into an educated middle class family. An only child, I was born male. I think I must have been 7 years old when I started cross dressing. I would wear my mother’s saree, get repr

Step Up the Pace Against Section 377 in India

In December 2013, the Indian Supreme Court upheld Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code recriminalizing homosexuality in the country. The months since the judgement have been a time of uncertainty for the LGBT community about what lies ahead. The re

36,656,825 and Counting

In 1983, Larry Kramer wrote an article for the New York Native filled with righteous anger, brilliant insight and, reading it now more than 30 years later, electric prophecy. It began, “If this article doesn’t scare the shit out of you, we&#

United Against Homophobia: Bringing Pehchan’s Human Rights Model to Uganda

“It was my view that homosexuality should be punished harshly in order to defend our society from disorientation.” – Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda, while signing Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law on February 25, 2014. “While readi

Trans-formation to End Discrimination (#IDAHOT 2014)

May 17th marks International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) around the world. I am sitting in my office at Alliance India in New Delhi as I gather my thoughts on the stigma and discrimination I have faced my whole life because I su

Towards the Right Side of History

As a gay rights activist, I am overjoyed by the recent Supreme Court ruling which gives legal protection to the transgender community. Ever since we heard the news, there has been an outpouring of celebration, joy and relief. The news has made the

‘207 against 377’: A Step Towards Reclaiming Our Rights

December 11th, 2013 was a black day in the history of India’s human rights movement. On this day, the Supreme Court of India set aside the historic judgment of Delhi High Court in 2009 and, by affirming the constitutionality of Section 377 of the

I did the HIV test: June 1994

It was one of those moments. Alone at home, I looked up the number for a diagnostic lab close by. When I got there, my heart skipped a beat to see the words: ‘HIV ELISA TEST’ jump out at me from the signboard. This was 1994, and I was scared. I w

By the Community, for the Community: India’s Own Curriculum for Vulnerable Sexual Minorities

Pehchan (which in Hindi means ‘identity’ or ‘recognition’) is one of the largest programme of its kind not just in India but in the world catering to the health and development needs of men who have sex with men, male-to-female transgender and

The Long Road Ahead

On 11 December 2013, the streets outside the Supreme Court of India thronged with a dazed crowd, hugging, sobbing and not quite sure what had happened. Inside the hushed courtroom, the judges had just passed a devastating ruling. Lesbians, gays, bi

A Transgender’s Story: International Day to End Violence against Sex Workers 2013

Sheela (name changed) is in her late twenties. A transgender, she recounts feeling like a women from a very young age. “I soon gave up my boyish lifestyle and started living like a female,” she says. “This did not go well with my family, schoolm

A Dark Day for India

I am crouched over my work desk at the Naz Foundation (India) Trust, combing through another draft of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalizes homosexuality. This case will be Naz India

World AIDS Day at 25: The Odds and Evens of a Quarter Century Fight against HIV/AIDS

HIV is not just a medical issue but also a social matter that requires a holistic, community-based response. (Photo by Peter Caton for India HIV/AIDS Alliance) It has been 25 years since the first observance of World AIDS Day on December 1, 1988. T

My Trans Reality: An Interview with Tista Das, Founder, SRS Solutions

An important step in the process of self-affirmation for many transgender people is to adapt their physical appearance to align with their gender identity. Many transgenders face significant challenges in accessing transition-related services in In

Going Global: An Indian Transgender at Prague Pride 2013

Big things often come unexpectedly. Last year, I met Lukas Rossalie, a gay photographer and activist from Prague, and shared with him the work we have been doing to support HIV prevention for men who have sex with men, transgender and hijra (MTH) c

More or Less Equal: Reflections on Freedom

The Indian Constitution declares that all Indians are granted the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression. On Independence Day, Shaleen Rakesh explores what freedom means for young Indians struggling to express their sexuality: I am at the barber

From India with Love: Bringing Pehchan to the Trans-Health Conference in Philadelphia, USA

“FINALLY!!!” read the email from Jacsen, coordinator of this year’s Trans-Health Conference in Philadelphia, as he sent my plane tickets on the morning we were scheduled to travel. The ticket had already undergone three corrections to my name,

Four Years to a Different Me: Reflections on the Anniversary of the 377 Decision

‘I still cannot forget that moment. Though it happened some four years back, the memories stay with me. I tried every possible way, but it refuses to fade away. I live with it every moment of my life,’ said Shilpa in a soft voice. I met

Transforming Identity: New Pehchan Issue Brief on Gender Transition Services in India

Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) and cross-sex hormonal therapy are two essential health services required for Male-to-Female (MtF) transgender people to help them align their bodies with their gender identity. Available evidence indicates a near lac

Transgenders Speak Out in Kerala, India: A Blog for International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia 2013

Shanno (name changed) is a 35-year-old transgender living in the Ernakulam district of the southern Indian state of Kerala. From childhood, Shanno bent towards feminine behaviour, a habit highly discouraged by her family and unacceptable in Kerala

Confronting Quackery, Demanding Care: India’s Hijras Seek Access to Sex Reassignment Surgery Services

Malika (her name changed) remembers feeling helpless when a government hospital refused to treat her for a painful and dangerous infection that had resulted from her sex reassignment surgery (SRS). Malika is a hijra and her story is not unique. Man

Three Tiers of Oversight: Accountability, Ownership & Programme Governance under Pehchan

In order to ensure transparent and ethical programme governance, the Pehchan team has established a three-tier system guided by stakeholders across a wide-ranging spectrum, comprising representation from the MSM, transgender and hijra (MTH) communi

Remembering Sukanya: International Transgender Day of Remembrance 2012

This Diwali, Aarthi called. I expected her usual warm greetings and was unprepared for her distressed voice. “I wanted to tell you sooner but could not get you on the phone. Abhi, I have bad news for you.” I was very tensed. Aarthi had never spok

Making Pehchan: Why the Global Fund Matters for Sexual Minorities

Alliance India’s own Sonal Mehta is now a blogger for The Huffington Post’s “Big Push” campaign, an effort to galvanize increased support for The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. In her first post, she describes how le

Sharing Experiences Across Borders: Alliance India Hosts International Horizontal Learning Exchange on MSM and Transgender Programming and Advocacy

Last week, Alliance India hosted a four day information sharing and learning exchange for Alliance partner organisations from Mongolia, Myanmar, Kenya and Indonesia. Comprised of discussions, workshops and visits to Pehchan field sites, the Horizon

Increasing Civil Society Involvement in the Fight Against HIV in China

India HIV/AIDS Alliance recently hosted a study tour of the Pehchan project for the China Association of STD and AIDS Prevention and Control (AIDS Association). This tour came in the wake of a significant decision made by the Chinese Government a f

Media Advocacy for addressing MTH issues

Alliance India in Andhra Pradesh conducted a Media Advocacy Meet this week (September 17, 2012) in Hyderabad to discuss the human right issues of men who have sex with men, transgender and hijras (MTH) and the role of media in representing their is

Separate hospital wards for transgenders soon to be a reality

In India, there is documented evidence of transgenders and hijras facing repeated stigmatisation and discrimination, in violation of their dignity and basic human rights. Pehchan, as part of the programme’s advocacy efforts to raise awarenes

Candidly Transgender: Government of India officially recognises third gender

Government of India (GoI) has taken a commendable step towards mainstreaming hijras and transgenders by recognising their gharana system. The Election Commission of India has for the first time ‘recognised’ transgenders and modified the Form of

An Amazing Story of Grit and Determination

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going! HAMAZOR an International magazine catering to the Zoroastrian community celebrates Simran Shaikh’s Programme Officer for Alliance India’s Pehchan Programme, spirit of unshakeable willpowe

Pehchan featured in Lancet article!

The Lancet — one of the world’s best known, oldest, and most respected medical journals — released a special themed issue at AIDS 2012 describing some progress and the many ongoing challenges in the HIV epidemic affecting MSM an

FROM STIGMA TO STRENGTH – Strategies for MSM, Transgender People and Allies in a Shifting AIDS Landscape

The Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF) is organizing today (21st July, 2012) the fifth MSM Pre-Conference event to the International AIDS Conference, to be held in Washington, DC. This year’s theme is: From Stigma to Strength: Strategies for

Mark your calendars for AIDS 2012 sessions on MSM and Transgenders

India HIV/AIDS Alliance has been working closely with partners worldwide to make sure that MSM and transgender people are heard at the upcoming International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC. If you are attending, we encourage you to participate i

Celebrating the Third Anniversary of the Right to Love

Three years ago, on July 2nd, 2009, the Delhi High Court handed down a landmark judgment, deciding that sexual acts between consenting adults of the same sex would no longer be criminalised under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. Today we celeb

Absolutely Ours : The importance of community-owned responses to HIV in India

“Communities are assisting State AIDS Control Societies to train police and health officials on their specific needs and concerns. It is not uncommon during police trainings for sari-clad hijras and MSM to lead sessions on why and how police serv

Going Beyond HIV : Fighting for Social Entitlements for the MSM, Transgender and Hijra Community

In the course of their work with members of the MSM, transgender and hijra (MTH) community, Pehchan team members have become all too familiar with the constant discrimination faced by community members. A lot of this discrimination, however, goes

A Multimedia Feast for the Senses : The latest news on Hijra Habba!

Since news on the first ever National Hijra Habba still continues to roll in, we decided to highlight some of what we’ve recently received (which includes the brilliantly emotive photo of Abhina and Yadavendra above)! In addition to the artic

Press Release – National Hijra Habba 2012

2nd June 2012 PRESS RELEASE Hijras advocate for equality, celebrate Hijra Habba In a national event organized by Pehchan, hijras highlight discrimination and demand equality for their community New Delhi: Stakeholders from government, media, polic

Speaking up for the rights of young transgender and hijra community members

Pehchan is organising National Hijra Habba tomorrow which serves to provide a platform for community members and supporters to raise awareness and promote equality for the transgender and hijra community in India. In keeping with the aim of this im

US State Department’s latest Human Rights Report details the status of LGBT rights around the world

“As Secretary, I have worked with my superb team on advancing human rights in a 21st century landscape, focusing on new frontiers even as we stand up against age-old abuses. Where women have been and continue to be marginalized, we’re hel

Fighting Transphobia and Homophobia: Pehchan team and supporters respond to cases of violence against the MSM, transgender and hijra community

International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia is celebrated on May 17th every year to commemorate the removal of homosexuality from the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases, which took place on this day in 19

Andhra Pradesh increases condom use to improve HIV prevention outcomes

Over the last four years, the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh (AP) has seen a 100% rise in the use of condoms, making it the fourth highest consumer of condoms among Indian states. This noteworthy upward trend in condom use has led to a red

“Is it a sin to be born a hijra?” Transgenders fight for civil rights in New Delhi

Members of the transgender community attended a public hearing in New Delhi to demand access to social inclusion and justice. Alliance India’s Simran Shaikh was present at the public hearing and spoke up about the discrimination and violence