2005 Landmarks
1. PUBLICATION OF THE BOOK Chhih! tumi naki... ( Shame! Are you a...)
Published in 2005, Chhih! tumi naki… is a collection of narratives in Bangla divided into two parts ‘Katha’ and ‘Kathantar’ presenting narrative pieces by LBT individuals and persons/allies who support queer activism respectively. While the narrative pieces are individual life stories of LBT persons, it also gives a picture of the LBT community as a collective. The essays in the ‘Kathantar’ part give an idea on the different perspectives on gender and sexuality issues, women’s issues in relation to activism. The book was edited by three Sappho for Equality members and published by a renowned publication house.
2. CHETANA GENDER-SEXUALITY RESOURCE CENTER INAUGURATION
In 2005, Sappho for Equality (SFE) inaugurated the gender sexuality resource center which is now popularly known as the Chetana Resource Center (CRC). It had been a project in the making since SFE’s inception, and even prior to that. This project was envisioned to serve the purpose of an administrative office, a library, a space to provide psychological counselling and legal services, alongside other cultural activities including group meetings, talks, discussions and in-house workshops. This came into fruition after elaborate collaborative discussions with different stakeholders in the feminist movement such as ‘Maitree’- the forum of activist groups, NGOs and individuals working for women’s rights, the LGBT community, and some college and university professors and students.
The resource centre started functioning from August 1, 2005. The books in the library had been collected through purchase or donations by well-wishers. Dr. Ranjita Biswas, psychiatrist and researcher interested in gender and sexuality issues and a founding member of SFE, was (and continues to, even as of 2023) volunteering as the psychological counsellor of SFE. Her Individual counselling sessions catered specially to members of the LBT community.
The inauguration program of Chetana Resource Centre was held on September 4, 2005. It witnessed several events including Ms. Mira Roy, member of Maitree, planting a sapling and giving a speech narrating her involvement with Sappho. Members of the collective and the organiZation (SFE) also narrated their own stories and the passage from Sappho to SFE. Mama Cash was thanked for its support rendered to the organiZation, without whose assistance, this endeavour could not have been a reality.
Three short films were screened on lesbian issues, followed by a discussion. Later, the group broke out into spontaneous music, dancing and poetry. At least one hundred people visited the Centre between 15.00 – 19.00 hrs. They came from all spheres of the society- psychiatrists, doctors, lawyers, academicians, students, NGO workers, families of lesbian women, media personnel, it was a medley of perspectives. A good number of visitors wanted to know more about the group, lesbianism and homosexuality in particular, and how someone could contribute to the movement for a non-discriminatory society. The experience was wonderful and rewarding as a whole.
