CWM

Indian Christians show solidarity with transvestites

Monday, 11 June 2007 01:00

A team from the Church of South India (CSI) Diocese of Madras attended the Aravani - transvestite - community festival in Koovagam in April to better understand the group's concerns.

They walked with crowds of Aravani and learned about their culture and the harassment and persecution they face. They made an awareness-raising video of the event from 30 April to 2 May and handed out pamphlets on government facilities.

Aravani - also called transgenders - are denied jobs; most are uneducated. They beg, work as guards in brothels or run errands for a living.

The Diocese of Madras has been working for their social acceptance through welcoming them into congregations, exploring self-employment, and organising awareness programmes on transgender.

Marjorie Rathna of the CSI Dioconal ministry said: "It was really interesting to see the whole place full with Aravanis from various parts of India.

"God created the world and only created man and woman. At times special beings came into existence in the form of transgenders, who need our love, care and concern, being vulnerable in the community. As God's people it is our moral duty to protect them and shape them as equal to us, to be accepted in our fold."

CSI Life