Humsafar Trust

This article is about the NGO in India. For other, see Humsafar (disambiguation).

Humsafar Trust is an NGO in Mumbai which promotes LGBT rights. Founded by Ashok Row Kavi, it is one of the largest and most active of such organizations in India.[1]

Origin

Indian writer and LGBT rights activist, Ashok Row Kavi founded Humsafar Trust in the late eighties after returning from Canada. At that time prejudice and conventional Indian societal values prevented MSM and transgender Indians from getting effective health services. The initial focus of Humsafar Trust was on activism for providing HIV/AIDS health services to gay men, but soon expanded to provide guidance, checkups, hospital referrals, confidential HIV testing, counseling and outreach for the complete spectrum of the LGBT community.[1]

Project Bolo

Humsafar Trust was the primary organizer of Project Bolo, an Indian LGBT oral history project funded by the United Nations Development Programme.[2]

Activism

Humsafar Trust organizes an LGBT film festival in Mumbai.[3]

Humsafar Trust has supported the organization of flash mobs to protest.[4]

In January 2012 Humsafar Trust director Vivek Anand filed a complaint on behalf of attendees at an LGBT fundraiser which was targeted by a protestor and police.[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 TREAT Asia Report (March 2008). "An Interview with Ashok Row Kavi—Coming Out in India". amFAR.org. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "Indian LGBT Oral History Project - About". Project Bolo. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  3. ↑ Jamkhandikar, Shilpa (20 April 2010). "Mumbai gay film fest eyes dialogue on homosexuality | Reuters". in.reuters.com. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  4. ↑ Khan, Afsha (21 Jan 2012). "Loud and Queer - Indian Express". indianexpress.com. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  5. ↑ Ratnam, Dhamini (15 January 2012). "'Activist' disrupts Pride fundraiser party". mid-day.com. Retrieved 30 January 2012.

External links