Pride flag raised in Chennai amid calls for inclusion and action

Members of Sahodaran Chennai are celebrating Pride Month on Monday. | Photo credit: M. Srinath

With the unmistakable rainbow flag flying over the Sahodaran campus, more than 50 members of the LGBTQIA+ community gathered on Monday (June 1, 2026) to raise it and kick off Pride Month by chanting slogans of non-discrimination and inclusion.

The LGBTQIA+ community raises its voice against the new law amendment at Chennai Pride

Chennai Rainbow Pride enters its 18th year with the Rainbow Pride Self-Respect March scheduled for June 28.

Apart from the celebrations, many who attended the event expressed their disappointment over the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026.

Among the 17 demands, they reiterated calls for horizontal reservation in education and employment in Tamil Nadu, gender-neutral toilets and changing the Tamil name of the transgender welfare council to Thirunar Nala Variyam.

CEO Sahodaran Jaya said previous state governments were sensitive to the community’s concerns. “This year is important for us because there is a new government in Tamil Nadu, but we don’t yet know how well they understand our issues. We hope that members of the Tamil Nadu Rainbow Coalition (TNRC) will be invited to a meeting with the current government so that we can directly explain our challenges to them,” she said.

Fred Rogers, a man with a trans experience, said that trans men are a minority within a minority and that the amendment to the law will completely erase them. “We are just like any other human being, but why should we be discriminated against based on our identity?” he said. Asked what Pride 2026 means to him, Mr Rogers said: “It’s about being myself and that gives me so much joy. I want the same for my peers.”

Finding job opportunities remains one of the main obstacles. Doctor Jaahanavi, who completed her MBBS in Russia, said she received many offer letters from hospitals in Chennai only to turn them down after disclosing that she is a trans woman.

Meanwhile, Archanaa Seker, a Chennai-based activist and member of the TNRC, said the pride month and the march were about equality, visibility and the right to exist and love.

“There’s a divisive world out there waiting for spaces and movements like these to break down. So it’s important that we find hope where it is and commit to fixing it whenever things go wrong,” she said, adding, “Now more than ever.”

Published – 01 Jun 2026 23:55 IST