Reel Desires: Chennai International Queer Film Festival 2021 #CIQFF2021 is brought to you by Orinam and the Goethe-Institut, in partnership with other groups and collectives working in such areas as LGBTIQA+ rights and community support, public health, and counselling services.
Orinam: Founded in 2003, Orinam is a Chennai-based and online collective of LGBTIQA+ individuals and their supporters working towards a world where individuals of all sexual orientations and genders are able to access their human rights free of discrimination. Our activities include peer support, advocacy, arts and cultural programming, and referrals to local and national resources. We also run a community blog, and an online resource center with information on sexuality and gender diversity for media, communities, families, healthcare providers, educational institutions, religious groups and workplaces looking to be more inclusive. Visit orinam.net, follow us on Twitter, or contact us with your queries through our web form.
Goethe-Institut: For over 50 years, the Goethe-Institut Chennai has been promoting an ongoing dialogue and exchange between Indian and German artists and experts in order to present German culture abroad and help shape a current understanding of Germany today. The program department organizes a broad range of events and supports projects in the fields of film and new media, arts, theatre and dance, music, literature, architecture and more. Goethe-Institut has been a strong supporter of LGBT issues and local communities both formally and informally over the years, internationally and in India. Visit http://www.goethe.de/ins/in/che/enindex.htm
Nirangal: An NGO working for social, economic, political and human rights for marginalized communities in Tamilnadu. Activities include crisis-support to LGBT individuals and sex workers, and advocacy for decriminalization and equal rights. Visit us at nirangal.org.in or email us at nirangal.india@gmail.com, call us at 98406-99776.
Chennai Queer Cafe: An online and offline support and social space for lesbians, bisexual women, transmen and our allies in Chennai. Contact us through Facebook.
SAATHII: An NGO headquartered in Chennai, SAATHII works nationally and in 14 states to improve access to health care, justice and rights for marginalized people. Our focus is on people living with or vulnerable to HIV, and those disenfranchised because of their sex, gender, gender-expression and real or perceived sexual orientation. SAATHII co-organized the first LGBT+ film festival in Chennai way back in 2004, along with Orinam (then called MP volunteers and the Alliance Francaise de Madras. It has been involved with co-organizing queer film festivals in Kolkata since 2003, and subsequently in several other districts in Odisha and West Bengal also. Visit saathii.org or contact info@saathii.org
East-West Center for Counselling and Training Founded by Magdalene Jeyarathnam, the Center provides short-term, culturally sensitive and LGBT-affirmative counselling (individual and group sessions), training, consultation, and other collaborative and programmatic services. Our areas of expertise are in counselling sexual minorities, children and adults, including parents of LGBT youth. Visit centerforcounselling.org or contact magdalene@centerforcounselling.org
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Nir (2015): emphasizes the twin concepts of fluidity and interdependence as empowered and nurturing ways of living together. Nir is currently a support and resource space for LBQ female-assigned and/or trans persons in Tamil Nadu. Nir is committed to promoting sustainable living, nurturing forms of kinship, and interdependent non-ownership based living. Nir believes in learning from indigenous, feminist and disabled living strategies to work for life-sustaining locales.
The Shakti Resource Center (2013, 2014): A collective of activists, performers, academics and everyday revolutionaries who are creating a public dialogue on gender and sexuality in Chennai.
Oye!Chennai (2013, 2014): Dedicated to the city, Oye!Chennai is a one-stop web portal for your daily dose of city-based infotainment. Apart from bringing you a round up from the world of cinema, arts, sports, campus, corporate and lifestyle, we pride ourselves in unraveling the city secrets, partnering events with a purpose and spreading the spirit of Chennai. Our other services include event management, multimedia design and development and social media marketing. Visit oyechennai.com
RIOV (until 2017): The lesbian/bi collective, many of whose members have started up Chennai Queer Cafe (CQC), one of the current co-organisers.
