BRIDGE, in collaboration with The Rainbow Room, organised an event on Wednesday to discuss and create a dialogue on the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community in different spaces in life, including workplace. The programme was supported by the US Consulate General, Kolkata and conducted at the American Center. The dialogue aims to strengthen conversation on challenges and discrimination faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals and help facilitate higher awareness, understanding and consensus around how to best create more enabling spaces.
Bridge is an NGO that works on a number of social issues, including the LGBTQIA+ community.
Panel discussion
The event began with consul general Melinda Pavek delivering the welcome speech. “Today, we mark the successful culmination of the US Consulate General Kolkata’s grant project titled Rainbow Dialogues. I feel proud to share that through a series of perception-mapping surveys, dialogues, and workshops, we have raised awareness about national laws safeguarding the rights and choices of LGBTQI+ communities. We have successfully connected over 1,400 people -- youth leaders from colleges and universities, educators, activists, researchers, and the media -- empowering them to become agents of change within their respective communities,” she added.
Samuho is a group that mostly presents queer and women-centric performances
Following this, a short play by Samuho was staged. The main story revolved around a couple and the daily abuse and embarrassment faced by them, especially at their workplace. Samuho is a group that mostly presents queer and women-centric performances. “This performance was created for sensitisation a few years back. So, when the discussion was on inclusion in the workplace, we decided to perform this piece,” said Panchali Kar, a member of the group.
