Happenings, Dec '13 (update 2)
Pawan Dhall reports on the ‘Trans Queen Contest North-East 2013’, which mixed beauty and creativity with protest against the Supreme Court verdict on Section 377, Indian Penal Code
Imphal, December 14, 2013: “We don’t want to go back to
1860”, “Down down Supreme Court ruling”, “We want freedom of choice”, “Legalize
love” and “Two of a kind make a beautiful pair” – these were some of the witty
and hard-hitting placards carried by participants at the third edition of the ‘Trans
Queen Contest North-East 2013’ held at the Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre in
Imphal yesterday. The event was organized by the All Manipur Nupi Maanbi
Association (AMaNA), a coalition of community-based organizations that work on
health, development and human rights of male-to-female transgender people or
trans women and males who have sex with males in Manipur.
The placards were a spontaneous show of protest against the Supreme Court verdict that overturned the Delhi High Court ruling on Section 377, Indian Penal Code and recriminalized same-sex sexual relations. When the verdict was announced on December 11, just two days before the event, the organizers struck upon a novel way to register protest against a ruling that angered not just lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other queer people across India, but also their allies. The creative round of the beauty contest, meant to display off-beat and even zany innovations in dress design, was modified to include a display of placards with pithy slogans, and easily became the most creative aspect of the event. All thoughts of beauty contests as regressive and against feminist principles were laid aside, at least for a while.
Pawan
Dhall aspires to be a rainbow journalist and believes in taking a stand, even
if it’s on the fence – the view is better from there!
Pawan Dhall reports on the ‘Trans Queen Contest North-East 2013’, which mixed beauty and creativity with protest against the Supreme Court verdict on Section 377, Indian Penal Code
The placards were a spontaneous show of protest against the Supreme Court verdict that overturned the Delhi High Court ruling on Section 377, Indian Penal Code and recriminalized same-sex sexual relations. When the verdict was announced on December 11, just two days before the event, the organizers struck upon a novel way to register protest against a ruling that angered not just lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other queer people across India, but also their allies. The creative round of the beauty contest, meant to display off-beat and even zany innovations in dress design, was modified to include a display of placards with pithy slogans, and easily became the most creative aspect of the event. All thoughts of beauty contests as regressive and against feminist principles were laid aside, at least for a while.
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| Contestants with placards in the creative dress round. Photo credit: SAATHII |
Cheered on by a vociferous and appreciative crowd of nearly
700 across the age and gender spectrum, 31 trans women from different districts
of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya walked the ramp in a colourful
display of traditional, contemporary and fusion dresses. Ten participants were
short listed for the final question and answer round by a jury consisting of
filmmaker Romi Meetie, educationist Konika Devi, journalist Erengbam Arun and
professor in Manipuri studies Dr. Vijayalakshmi Brar. The winners were Beoncy
Laishram, a medical student, Nippon Rajkumari, a fashion designer, and Khaidem
Sunder, a beautician – in that order and all three from Manipur.
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| A scene from the traditional dress round of the contest. Photo credit: Pawan Dhall |
In her welcome address, Thangjam Santa Khurai, Secretary,
AMaNA said, “I am sorry for the Supreme Court verdict, but how long will we
keep saying sorry? The government should stop criminalizing us!” Several other
special invitees joined her in expressing disappointment at the verdict and promised
support for AMaNA and its cause. Chief among them were A. Guneshwar Sharma, District
and Sessions Judge, Imphal (East) and Abhiram Mongjam, Joint Director –
Targeted Interventions, Manipur State AIDS Control Society. A. Guneshwar Sharma,
a well-wisher of AMaNA’s work since his days as Member Secretary, Manipur State
Legal Services Authority, said: “Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people
should have equal rights and be treated as equal citizens.” Earlier, the
organizers involved the entire audience in an inspiring candlelight protest
against the Supreme Court verdict.
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| Candlelight protest against the Supreme Court verdict. Photo credit: Pawan Dhall |
The event was supported by AMaNA’s technical partners and
donors Manipur State AIDS Control Society, American Jewish World Service and
Solidarity and Action Against The HIV Infection in India (SAATHII). Sanamacha,
key anchor for the event and associated professionally with Maruploi
Foundation, a member agency of AMaNA, said: “The event has become an important
and popular solidarity event for the transgender community of North-Eastern
India”. The vocal crowd at the venue seemed to bear her words out.
Most of the contestants in the event were involved in high
school or college studies, music, dance, social work and fashion, and some
worked as beauticians. Many had designed their own dresses. What was missing
was a word of consolation or support from the anchors for the contestants who
stumbled or suffered stage fright.
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