Transgender Activist Kalki Subramaniam To Speak At Harvard

We know her for her various roles, especially as a motivator who spreads awareness campaigns and welfare initiatives for the transgender community. A writer, activist, and actor -- Kalki Subramaniam is rewriting the transgender community's history in various sections in the country. And now this Tamil Nadu-based transgender activist has recently been invited by Harvard University to speak at the India Conference 2017.

"I will be speaking about transgender (TG) rights, issues and possible solutions," said Kalki, founder of Sahodari Foundation, as reported by TOI.

Honoured by this invitation, Kalki said that while being on such a prominent international platform, her main focus would be to open up about the social, political and economic problems of the TG community, and also discussing the solutions to these problems globally. "I will also talk about how we can move forward to establish human rights and equality for trans people," she said.

Also Read: Transgender Actress To Star In Malayalam Film With Mammootty

The conference, which is scheduled to be held on February 11 and 12, is focusing on the theme: 'India - The Global Growth Engine'. The event will reflect the opportunities presented by India's growth in the last few decades and the challenges it must overcome. Kalki is a part of the largest and most prestigious student-led conference in the US that focuses on various aspects of India.

Also Read: Anjali Lama – First Nepali Transgender Model To Debut At The Lakme Fashion Week

Every year, students at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Business School jointly organise the conference in which students from across the Harvard community take part.

While Kalki is going to be a speaker at the Harvard Kennedy School on February 11 for a special panel, she will be duscussing her views on the topic that focuses on the challenges faced by the TG community in India. While sharing her thoughts about the opportunity and how such a global platform is open to discuss such a topic that will bring out the difficulties trans people faced worldwide, Kalki also feels that if the TG community gets a big support from their family, that would itself solve half of the problems.

Also Read: Modelling Agency For Transgender Community To Open In New Delhi

"It leads to low self-esteem, and suicidal tendencies, with many trans people even committing suicide," she says. "I will be talking about my own personal experience as a trans woman and how I overcame various challenges. The TG community has been pushed to the margins because of our gender identity, and we are struggling to get an equal space in society, lobbying with the judiciary as well as academic institutions," she added.

Kalki Subramaniam is a well known face in India. Founder of the Sahodari Foundation, which provides counselling and support services to underprivileged transgender women, Kalki has also featured in a Tamil movie, Narthagi, as a lead actor and became the first transgender woman ever to act in a mainstream cinema.

Also Read: Kami Sid – Pakistan’s First Trans Model’s Debut Photoshoot

Also Read: Weaving magic for transgender women: A unique initiative by a Kerala designer

Feature Image Credit: Indiatimes.com

Read More Stories By Ria Das

Join Us on https://www.facebook.com/SheThePeoplePage

Follow Us on https://twitter.com/SheThePeopleTV