Assam gets its first registered LGBTQIA+ organization

Our Correspondent

TEZPUR: Marking the month of September remarkable, Xobdo- Dialogue Dignity Movement Foundation, a flag bearer organization that works specifically on LGBTQIA+ issues, has been registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. It is the maiden registered LGBTQIA+ organization in Assam.

On September 6, 2018, the IPC Section 377 was read down by the Supreme Court, decriminalizing homosexuality in India. Since then, the month of September has been celebrated by most queer Indians as Pride Month.

On this memorable occasion, co-founder Luku (Arpana Choudhury) said, "Xobdo Foundation was incepted in 2018 and has been working independently since then. As the name goes, our mission and vision is to create dialogue amongst the youth to uphold the dignity of all individuals identifying as LGBTQIA+, thus creating a movement towards an equal society."

Luku was enlisted in Forbes India 30 under 30, 2017, for advocating and working towards the rights of Adivasi women working in tea plantations of Assam. From its inception, Xobdo Foundation has been actively working on upholding the dignity of the LGBTQIA+ and generating awareness on gender and sexuality. Queertessential was an outreach programme initiated by Xobdo Foundation that got immense attention from the youth. It focused on sharing knowledge on gender and sexuality through dialogue communication, discussions and films screenings. Furthermore, the initiative shed light on the narratives of the LGBTQIA+ youth and the pain points of the concerned community.

Indranee Kalita, another co-founder of Xobdo, stated, "We, the team of Xobdo Foundation, aim at breaking the taboos around LGBTQIA+ and to establish a safe space for the community through discussions, film screenings, consultations, and organizing panel discussions." Xobdo is the first queer movement of Tezpur that believes in equal opportunities for all people, irrespective of their gender and sexual identities. Netizens are pouring their heart out and congratulating the organization for breaking the glass ceiling.

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