Lesbian Association of India
Encyclopedia
Established in June 2007, the Lesbian Association of India (LAI) is a United Kingdom
-based organisation working to support lesbian
and bisexual women in India
, which has a population of 1.12 billion
. There are many independent or small organisations working for LGBT
groups in larger cities within India, however many states and smaller cities are without such organisations. The LAI is believed to be the first organisation of its kind which openly plans to provide services to the entire country.
Talking about Pune
, the city in Maharastra where the first center will be established, founder Molly Blackburn notes, "while there were groups for gay men in India, there was nothing for women". Its aims in India are summed up thus:
Community Centers: LAI plans to establish a community center in one city for every state in India, each center will:
, Maharashtra
. The project is entitled 'Understanding Health/Mental Health needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Individuals.' The project completion date is for 2008.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-based organisation working to support lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
and bisexual women in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, which has a population of 1.12 billion
1000000000 (number)
1,000,000,000 is the natural number following 999,999,999 and preceding 1,000,000,001.In scientific notation, it is written as 109....
. There are many independent or small organisations working for LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
groups in larger cities within India, however many states and smaller cities are without such organisations. The LAI is believed to be the first organisation of its kind which openly plans to provide services to the entire country.
Talking about Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, the city in Maharastra where the first center will be established, founder Molly Blackburn notes, "while there were groups for gay men in India, there was nothing for women". Its aims in India are summed up thus:
History
LAI was established in 2007 by its director, Molly Blackburn, after making several trips to India, from the age of 15, and having seen and experienced first-hand the plight of thousands of lesbian women in India who suffer as a direct result of the intolerance, ignorance and conservative religious attitudes that remain pervasive in Indian society.Work
Break the Silence: A blog reacting to the silence and secrecy in which Indian lesbian or bisexual women must live, and the rather Victorian belief that two women can not be lovers. A space where men or women from around the world can post messages or creative literature in support of the women in India, and begin to 'break the silence'.Community Centers: LAI plans to establish a community center in one city for every state in India, each center will:
- Provide an environment where women can find safety discreetly.
- Provide legal reading material, and advice.
- Provide counseling
- Provide an environment for lesbian/bisexual women to meet, interact and share with one another with the aim to give a feeling positive feeling of group identity, and reduce the harmful negative attitude many will have experienced from family, friends or public.
- Organize weekly socials and events with the help and active involvement of local women to encourage confidence.
- Will employ lesbian/bisexual women as voluntary workers from the community in various capacities.
- Encourage graduates to work with the LAI in India to gain experience.
- Will work with the local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to educate, sensitize and facilitate the safe referral of any lesbian/ bisexual women to LAI.
Research
The LAI is currently supporting the research project of Seher, an Indian team based in PunePune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. The project is entitled 'Understanding Health/Mental Health needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Individuals.' The project completion date is for 2008.