Tezpur, Sept 30, 2021: Marking the month of September remarkable, Xobdo- Dialogue Dignity Movement Foundation, a flag bearer organization that works specifically on LGBTQIA+ issues, has been registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. It is the maiden registered LGBTQIA+ organization in Assam.
Notably, on Sept 6, 2018, the IPC Section 377 was read down by the Honourable Supreme Court, decriminalizing homosexuality in India. Since then, the month of September has been celebrated by most queer Indians as Pride month.
On this memorable occasion, co-founder Luku (Mx Arpana Choudhury) has said that “Xobdo Foundation incepted in 2018 and has been working independently since then. As the name goes, our mission & vision is to create dialogue amongst the youth to uphold the dignity of all individuals identifying as LGBTQIA+, thus creating a movement towards an equal society.” Worth mentioning that co-founder Luku was enlisted in Forbes India 30 under 30, 2017, for
advocating & working towards the rights of Adivasi women working on tea plantation of Assam. From its inception, Xobdo Foundation has been actively working on upholding the dignity of the LGBTQIA+ and generating awareness on gender and sexuality.
QueerTessential was an outreach program initiated By Xobdo Foundation that got immense attention from the youth. It focused on sharing knowledge on gender and sexuality through dialogue communication, discussions & films screenings. Furthermore, the initiative shedded light on the narratives of the LGBTQIA+ youth & the pain points of the concerned community.
Indranee Kalita, another co-founder of Xobdo, stated that: We, the team Xobdo Foundation, aim at breaking the taboos around LGBTQIA+ and to establish a safe space for the community through discussions, film screenings, consultations, and organizing panel discussions.”
Xobdo is the first queer movement of Tezpur, Assam that believes in equal opportunities for all people, irrespective of their gender and sexual identities. Netizens are pouring their heart out & congratulating the organization for breaking the glass ceiling.
