By Matters India Reporter
Guwahati: Some Christian groups in Guwahati organized a Christmas program for transgender community to bring cheer to an ostracized, humiliated and sneered group.
“You are God’s creation, God’s loving children. Jesus is born to bring the good tidings of love, peace, hope and joy,” Archbishop John Moolachira of Guwahati assured scores of third gender people gathered on December 12 at Poorvanchal Prakriti Samaj, social work center of Jesuits at Uzzan Bazzar, Guwahati.
“Who am I to judge them?” the prelate said quoting Pope Francis. The transgender people “shouldn’t be marginalized. They are our brothers and sisters,” he asserted.
Other Church dignitaries who spoke on the occasion were Father Arul Soosai, regional superior of Northeast Jesuits, Jesuit Father Valerian Castelino, director of Purvanchal Pragriti Samaj, Ecumenical Core Tem member Goldsmith and Father Varghese Velickakam, director of Northeastern Diocesan Social Forum.
All of them voiced their concern for the transgender community and expressed the desire to see them join the mainstream society.
Goldsmith asserted that a change of mindset toward gender fluidity was essential to work for the segregated community.
Sister Prema Chowallur, who has been associated with the transgender community for the past two years, says “the ostracized, humiliated and sneered group” requires special attention from society to help discover their human dignity.
“Bringing the LGBT community to mainstream is a Herculean task. Yet it is heartening especially when they unfold their stories to me,” the member of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod told Matters India. “Although the work among them seems unrewarding, it is indeed a great act of mercy, kindness and care,” she added.
The transgender community said the Christmas program made them feel accepted and honored as the gathering treated them with due respect. Neha, their guru, said, “We are never accepted with so much of love and respect anywhere. This is for the first time we felt we are respected and we are valued.”
She also said in the Christians have given their community solace and acceptance as it is engaged in a continuous battle for their rights, identity and gender fluidity.
“It was ecstatic to be in the midst of Christians to perform our talents and spend a day in mirth and merriment in togetherness,” Neha added.
The program was organized by Love Guwahati, Assam Baptist Convention, Golaghat in collaboration with Purvanchal Pragriti Samaj, Guwahati, the Social wing of the Society of Jesus, Kohima Region.
Young trainees of the Holy Cross congregation displayed the Nativity Scene while Christian youth sang carols to highlight the theme of Christmas and New Year.
Dances of the transgender community, exchange of gifts, and sumptuous meal added color to the program.