By Matters India Reporter
Bengaluru, December 24, 2022: The Apostolic Carmel Sisters organized a unique Christmas celebration with transgender community in Bengaluru, giving a message of gender equality and inter-religious amity.
The celebration held a week ago at the Apostolic Carmel Generalate in Jayanagar in collaboration with the Teachers Training Institute at the same campus attracted 57 transgenders, several teachers and general public.
The principal of the Sacred Heart Teachers’ Training Institute, Sr. Clarice welcomed the transgenders by offering them a rose. “Christmas is for all and the presence of trangender community has added more meaning to our celebration”, said the Apostolic Carmel nun who invited the special group this year.
According to 2011 survey in India, there are 487,803 transgender population in India. Bengaluru city alone has over 10,000 Transgenders among a 13 million population, most of them live by either sex work, begging or religious activities.
“We need to build a world of love including those who are rejected by the society”, said Fr. Joseph Naveen Kumar, the parish priest of the Christa Prabhalaya Church, Jayanagar who led a prayer of blessing on the occasion. Appreciating the initiative taken by the Apostolic Carmel Sisters to include transgenders for their celebration, he said this was in tune with the call of Pope Francis.
Pope Francis called for a space for LGBT community in the Church which is characterised by the term, “accompaniment”. He issued several pastoral letters in this regard.
The programme began with Scripture readings from the Bhagavad Gita, the Koran and the Bible.
The guest speakers were Dr. Akkai Padmashali, a transgender social activist and a Rajyostva Prashasthi awardee and Mr. Tanveer Ahmed of Mercy Mission Bangalore, an awardee of the World Book of Records, London for his commendable services during the pandemic.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Akkai mentioned said the transgenders face tremendous discrimination at every level in society from families, siblings, neighbours and so on.
“The sexual minorities need to have access to social, economic, and political justice”, she asserted . Also the founder of Ondede, a human rights organization to advocate the rights of children, women and sexual minorities, she appreciated the management for having invited the transgender community for the celebration which reflects the spirit of Christmas.
Tanveer brought out a blend between spirituality and acts of charity and mercy and his strong belief in it. “Jesus himself embraced everyone without distinction of caste or creed. We need to promote these values in the society”, he said.
Dr. Sr. Clarice thanked and appreciated the speakers for their service to the society and they were felicitated by Sr. Linette, the assistant superior General, Sr. Ancilla, the General Councillor for Education and Sr. Maria Sujata, the Superior of Lourdes Covent.
A dance Drama “Shanthi Dutha” was staged by the D.Ed. students of Sacred Heart Teachers’ Training Institute followed by the singing of Christmas Carols by the choir group of Christa Prabhlaya.