LGBT community facing discrimination

Kolkata: The LGBT community is facing discrimination at many places and there should be more public awareness about it and the problems faced by its members, panelists at a discussion hosted by US Consulate here said.

They also advocated raising public awareness about the problems faced by the LGBT community.

The meet – entitled ‘South Asian Dialogue on LGBTQI Youth and Livelihood Discrimination’ – held yesterday was part of ‘Pride Month’ celebrations when various events are held during the month of June across the globe as a way of recognising the influence LGBT people have had around the world, US Consulate Assistant Public Affairs Officer Jay Treloar said.

Member of West Bengal Transgender Board Ranjita Sinha, founder of Sappho for Equality – an organisation working for the rights of lesbians, bisexual women and trans men – Subhagata Ghosh, Secretary of Prantakatha Bappaditya Mukherjee deliberated on youth and livelihood discrimination faced by the LGBT community in the city and elewhere.

The panel discussion was preceded by a virtual round table that connected LGBTQI Youth and Livelihood Discrimination communities from Bangladesh, Myanmar, different parts in India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka via video conference.