Bangalore, July 9 (ANI): Members of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community utilised the benefits of a 24-hour helpline that has been running in Bangalore to counsel and assist them.
A helpline named 'Samara', launched five years ago for the benefit of LGBT community.
Suma, Director of Sampangiram Nagar branch of Samara, said that the need for this helpline arose when the members of the sexual minority group realised that their needs were not being adequately supported by their families in particular and by society in general.
"We started a team of members that could solve the problem. If any problem happens in a particular area, this organisation will support those people. Like in this crisis team, we have different typology people, hijras, kothis, double deckers, bisexual. Every typology community people are on this team and if any crisis happens, within half an hour, we go to the station and will question why these people have been arrested," said Suma.
This helpline is available in seven different regions of the city and most of the complaints received are related to harassment by the police and violence inflicted by their respective families and local goons.
"We always face a lot of stigma, discrimination in all the sectors, it may be hospitals, police stations, public toilets or bus stands, etc. I think when Samara started its crisis helpline, many people began accessing this kind of opportunities and people are utilising the kind of support that this organisation is providing," said Akai, a transgender.
The members of the helpline also provide counselling or advocacy to the victims.
The High Court had on July 2, 2009 declared the penal provision (under Section 377 of Indian Penal Code) for gay sex among consenting adults in private as unconstitutional which was earlier a criminal offence punishable with up to life imprisonment. (ANI)
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