All this is because they feel there is a larger need to create awareness so that social attitude towards the LGBTQ community can become more positive and inclusive.
The new aim of the parents body of LGBTQ children is to visit educational institutions to sensitise students and the faculty. They plan to do this along with Kashish — the International Queer Film Festival — which has also been reaching out to such institutions. All this is because they feel there is a larger need to create awareness so that social attitude towards the LGBTQ community can become more positive and inclusive.
Around 15 fathers and mothers of LGBTQ children came together for a meeting earlier this week, after the Supreme Court's judgment. Many of the parents had hoped for this day when Section 377 is no more and were overjoyed by the verdict which they said gave a new lease of life to their children to live freely. They also felt their children need not migrate abroad to feel secure.
"It is now important to take the strength of this huge victory ahead with activities that reach out to more parents. We have to talk in Educational and other Institutions to create awareness and support for LGBTQIA community", said Chitra Palekar who has been one of very vocal voice of the parents support group for a long time, "It is time for action. We need to counter stigma and discrimination at social level", she said. Palekar recently spoke at a conclave at IIM Ahmedabad where the primary focus was parental acceptance.
Kashish also has been conducting Kashish Forward, screening program of LGBTQ films, at IIM Ahmedabad for past three years and the day long events have been very successful in engaging with a younger audience
"This was unthinkable a few years ago. There were very few parents who were out", said Sridhar Rangayan who has facilitated founding of the Sweekar group, "The parents derive courage from each other and feel empowered. That is the very reason Sweekar was formed and we hope more parents join the group to find comfort and solace," he added.
At the Sunday meeting of the group after the decriminalization, there were six new parents who came to join Sweekar. Each one of them shared their story of how they came to know of their son/daughter's sexual orientation and the difficulty they had in accepting them initially. They say they are happy about the decision which gave them further courage to come and be part of the group.
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