About: Queer rights in IndiaIn its landmark 2018 judgement that decriminalised homosexuality, the Supreme Court of India acknowledged that “history owes an apology to the members of the LGBT community and their families for the delay in providing redressal for the ‘ignominy’ and ‘ostracism’ they have faced through the centuries.” However, more than four years later, the queer community do not have the support or resources needed to lead full lives.Queer-trans people need safe housing.While most empowerment programs focus on bootcamp-style rehabilitation programs, we believe that the primary right that must be urgently addressed for queer-trans people is safe housing.Without safe, gender-affirmative housing, educational and employment programs are not sustainable.We need to create structural support to counter systemic oppression.Most emergency shelters offer aid only to those in crisis. However, queer people need consistent support beyond moments of emergency. It is not enough to survive, queer people deserve to thrive. QT Center, in addition to offering temporary shelter to queer-identifying adults, will create a self-sustainable network of resources to not just address crisis but to prevent it.It takes a village… and we have several!The QT Collective is a group of queer individuals based in Hyderabad with diverse caste, gender and sexual identities. Yugantar is a 42 year old not-for profit organisation working on issues of equity, development and democracy. Together, we form the core team of QT Center.However, to create a thoughtful, holistic environment of care, QT Center has partnered up with several queer-feminist organisations:Pause for Perspective: a group Queer-affirming clinical psychologists, counsellors and educationists who will offer group and individual counselling sessions at QT Center.Nirmaan Foundation: a registered NGO that will offer skill development, education and entrepreneurship programs.Bhumika Women’s Collective: with their expertise of running a successful helpline for women since 2006, Bhumika will hire and train dedicated personnel to manage a helpline for queer people.
