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Until and Unless: Decriminalizing Queer India

Until and Unless Trailer

Set in West Bengal a year before the historic decision to repeal India's anti-sodomy law, Penal Code 377, Until and Unless follows the story of four individuals and the impactof systemic oppression via India's legislative system on their lives. The film features Sintu, a transwoman community leader raised in the Sheoraphuli red-light district; Nitu, a transwoman sex worker who lives a dual identity as a man named Nitai; Lovely, a Koti person who lives a closeted life while working in an office environment, and Pratap, a trans teen still navigating her identity. Through juxtaposing their stories with interviews from lawyers and activists working to oppose these laws, the film the lived consequences of state and social violence on community self- representations.

Film Credits

Created by: Balaram Dey Street Anandam

Direction by: Sintu Bagui, Netu Giri, Soma Roy and Amelia Carter

Director of Cinematography: Subhodeep Chanda

Producer: Amelia Carter

Assistant Producers: Siyona Ravi & Andreana Barefield Editor: Gabe Coffey

Featured Music: "Rainbow," album by Allyn Miner

Register Now

http://negotiatingsurvival.rsvpify.com

Kolkata Anandam for Equality and Justice is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Kothi and Hijra (LGBTQKH*) organization that fights for a process of social and political change to enhance the rights, dignity and quality of life of LGBTKH* people in Kolkata. They are a grassroots, community-led organization that works from an anti- violence framework. Anandam believes that violence is a multifaceted issue in our community and can manifest as economic, physical, sexual, emotional, social and state violence. They believe strongly in upholding human rights for all.

Anandam is led by and serves the most marginalized members of Kolkata’s queer population. KAEJ’s work is based in red light districts throughout rural and urban West Bengal. Many of their members low income men, women and transgendered individuals who cannot find work due to their gender presentation and/or sexuality. Because of this, many members engage the sex industry and other street economies for survival. Due to the criminalization of both sex work and LGBTQKH* persons in India the members often compounded discrimination due to homophobia, transphobia, social abuse and poverty. Through awareness campaigns, institutional training programs protest, and LGBTQKH* movement building from the ground up, ultimately hope to create a more equitable and accepting social political environment for queer people in India.

The asterisk* after LGBTQKH symbolizes the inclusivity of Anandam's greater community. India has an incredibly diverse queer culture also includes: intersex, asexual, kinnar, shiv-shakti, aravani, men having sex with men (MSM) and many others. Anandam is inclusive of all people with non-normative gender or sexual identities and/or practices.

If you are interested in hosting a screening and discussion of this event on campus please reach out to Anandam Advisor Dr. Soma Roy at [email protected].

More information can be found here :

https://www.kolkataanandam.org

Cafe Mela is a pop-up gathering space for LGBTKH community members and allies to come together around tea, food, performance and dance in Kolkata. Here you can feel free to dress as you wish to be seen, use chosen names and be open about your sexuality in affirming environment. Cafe Mela is an assertion of the ultimate freedom of self-expression, self-determination and self-empowerment. People from all economic backgrounds, castes, faiths and social experience are welcome to engage in this non-judgement and inclusive environment. Members of KAEJ, many of whom originate from the redlight districts of West Bengal or engage in sex-work as a form of labor and economic survival, will have the opportunity to showcase their talents. From Launda dance, traditional Hijra dance forms, theater, popular dance and comedy the community will be able to demonstrate their multifaceted talents and skills.

We invite you all to join us for the celebrations!

Hosted by Kolkata Anandham for Equality and Justice