When gender is looked at from a kaleidoscope it can seem to be extremely diverse where a person has the liberty to be and feel without judgment. The LGBTQIA+ community has seen a struggle from being called as a miniscule minority to getting their right of gender identity and expression being recognised as inherent to individual dignity.
In order to honour the challenges faced by the community and to discuss possible social and legal interventions, Marathwada Mitra Mandal’s Shankarrao Chavan Law College introduced a Certificate Course on” Law and Alternative Sexualities” on 1st February 2022. The course aims to introduce and acquaint students with the concept of alternative sexual identities, and the history, law, politics, and literature of alternative sexualities in ancient, medieval and contemporary India. It’s a first-of-its-kind designed with a holistic approach keeping in mind awareness to larger sociocultural shifts in understandings of sexual and gender identities. The course has speakers like Prof. Dr. R. Raj Rao; Zainab Patel; Ashok Row Kavi; Senior Lawyer Anand Grover, Bindumadhav Khire; Maya Sharma Author and activist, Apurva Asrani- National Award Winner Filmmaker, Parmesh Shahni; Manvendra Singh Gohil, first Prince who came out as Gay, Founder of Lakshay Trust Foundation, Pallavi Pareek- founder and CEO Ungender, Dr. Kanchan Pawar from Mitr Clinic, mental health professionals like Dr. Anagha Jog and Dr. Kaustubh Joag; Aruna Desai, Co- founding member of Sweekar Foundation, Mumbai (a support group of the parents of LGBTQ children); Air Cmde. Dr. Sanjay Sharma- founder ATHI, Sylvester Merchant, Kanav Sahgal, Vidhi Legal Policy; and medical professionals from the public health centre.
The first edition saw a total of 32 participants from law, English, social work pursuing graduation and masters. The participants were students, research scholars, educators, counsellors and professionals. 17 resource persons taught during the 3 month long course for over 70 plus hours.
Looking at the response and request from all over India, we are delighted to begin the 2nd edition of the Certificate Course on “Law and Alternative Sexualities” from 21st July, 2022.
Please find attached the brochure of the Certificate Course.
Kindly fill the admission form through the link:
https://forms.gle/4UrRAWyPBtsDqtLn8
Eligibility: Anyone above 18 years is eligible to enrol for the course.
Last Date of Registration: 17th July, 2022
(Please hurry, we have limited seats, can enroll only 30 participants in the course)
Thanks and regards.
Dr. Renu Naidu
Asst. Professor of Sociology
Program Officer & Chairperson Equal Opportunity Cell
Marathwada Mitra Mandal’s Shankarrao Chavan Law College, Pune
