Okay girls...get your butts and/or bucks down to Kolkata/Calcutta.. See you there.. Elizabeth [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
From: integration society <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Sat Jun 11, 2005 7:01 pm Subject: THE RAINBOWFESTIVAL 2005 : Kolkata Gay Pride looks for your support integrations... T H E R A I N B O W F E S T I V A L 24th to 26th JUNE 2005 KOLKATA, INDIA Commemorating Stonewall Riots Day, June 1969 The beginning of the Gay Liberation Movement IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII II\ IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA venture by INTEGRATION Society, Kolkata, India Dear Friends, Here's wishing all of you success and joy, encompassed in the vibrant colors of the Rainbow! Colors connote the Rainbow, which affords all of us happiness and joy; where we are different and yet together. About INTEGRATION Society . . . INTEGRATION Society, Kolkata has been working as a Communication Initiative on Health and Human Rights for the Youth and Sexual Minorities since 1999, it has taken up quite a few events that have given the issues of alternative sexuality quite a public visibility. Especially, The Rainbow Festival, the only Gay Pride of India happening in Kolkata since 1999, has made a remarkable space in the media and among the public. "Visibility" being the prime objective INTEGRATION Society picks up events that are not only media sensational but also with strong voices and recommendations. >From audio play to short film, from poster presentation to art and craft exhibition all had been executed by INTEGRATION Society, Kolkata since the beginning of its journey. About THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL . . . Among all the activities what Integration Society has earned a space for in India, is organizing THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL, the most impact-making event concerning people with alternative sexual orientation and gender Identity. This is to commemorate the Stonewall Riots Day, June 26, 1969, the red lettered day in the history of the social movement of gay liberation. Today, in India, with a different set of developmental and rights issues to grapple with, more than 100 groups, over last few decades have been showing admirable and encouraging efforts in running the socio-political movement of people with alternative sexuality and gender identity towards achieving a healthy and safe lifestyle and space. But it is still not enough to do away with all kinds of discrimination, stigma, taboo and harassment that GLBT people face in this country. Not enough to ensure equal space and dignity for every individual irrespective of their class, cast, language, religion, sexual preferences and so on. How we Celebrate THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL . . . INTEGRATION Society as an initiator organizing this Pride walk since 1999 in Kolkata. A great concept coming from Mr. Owais Khan in 1999 naming it as 'FRIENDSHIP WALK' has gradually evolved in to a festival and became popular as 'THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL', has achieved an increasing popularity over these years. By 2004, the city had seen the greater gathering around the Rainbow Festival and felt the presence of GLBT communities throughout India raising a chorus for their rights To Love And To Be Loved. Organisiations Like Companions On A Journey from Shrilanka, Naz Foundation from Delhi, Fellowship From Orissa, Amtie, Bandhan, DMSC, PLUS, Prataya, SAATHII, Swikriti from Kolkata and so many individuals from various parts of the world coming together we were about 300 friends that matched steps with each other and sang chorus for equality and dignity. For the cultural events mainstream performing art groups like Sapphire Creations, OnStage, X-Pose and quite a few talented individuals with their solo performances have expressed support and solidarity to this greater cause in different years. The last time was remarkable not only in terms of the number of participants, also looking at the variety, including some lesbian friends showing up for the first time, it gained a real feeling of togetherness. The mainstream, the women groups, other developmental initiatives, Kolkata Police and the media increasingly have come around supporting this mega event. Needless to mention that it is always YOUR contribution that brought all the success to THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL. In a country like India, in a society like ours, sexuality still being dumped under the carpet, YOU, from that very society standing up beside us is undoubtedly deserve a great salute. This year, the effort is to increase the periphery of partners in this venture by encouraging more organisations and individuals, be them community, be them mainstream to match steps with us and share the joy and happiness of being together. The idea is to create a stage to embrace and celebrate diverse, disjointed and different sexualities – where you can meet, interact, speak, explore, discover your true self and breathe life without the constraints of morality, tradition, rationality or political correctness. Most importantly, this is to create a space that is for all and it is all about life and desire. Inviting YOU at THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL 2005 . . . Hence, we INVITE YOU and YOUR FRIENDS to come and participate at THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL 2005 with all possible capacity and strengthen the visibility and the voice of equality and dignity for US. This year, it is going to be the Gay Pride Week from June 20th to June 26th 2005. 2oth June 2005 : Press Conference jointly by SAATHII, Swikriti, Amitie and INTEGRATION Society 21st to 25th June 2005 : Film festival by SAATHII in various venues in and around Kolkata 24th June 2005 : Screening of film followed by a pannel discussion on 'Sexual Minorities and Human Rights' at USIS, American Centre, Kolkata 26th June 2005 : Releasing of an audio CD presenting poem originally written and recited by four Indian gay and transgender poets of India (Bikram Das, Owais Khan, Sanjay Vasa and Tista Mitra) followed by notes from the artists. The Gay Pride Walk from 4.30pm The Rainbow Bash - DanceDinner gathering - winding up ceremony. FOR DETAILS PLEASE CALL AT 91-9831271542 We welcome all the Friends who had been there with us in the past and friends who could not be with us on those great moments togetherness and joy are also welcome this time. So friends KEEP GETTING REDDY! We sincerely hope to see more new faces with us!! Unfortunately, INTEGRATION Society not being a funded organization we regret for our limitations in handling any kind of reimbursement for the participants. We would consider your participation in this festival on your own cost, a great contribution to the cause that contributes towards the larger GLBT movement of India. YOU become Part of THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL 2005 . . . Let us come together and join hands. Not to create conflicts, not to move away from tradition, not to create divisions; but to break through all possible barriers between people. This, to interpret life from a new, inspiring perspective, to make this great event even bigger success this year, we really need all of you to come forward and lend your hands in various ways. To you all who are in a position to contribute to this great event in other ways, INTEGRATION Society looks up to you for your support. To ensure better participation and to increase the scope of the programme the budget of the festival for this year will increase up to Rupees Two Lakhs (Rs. 2,00,000/-). Whether you are an organization or an individual, funding or sponsoring any particular or partial expense of the budget will be considered as a great contribution from your side. YOU can help us by . . . · Forwarding this Announcement/Invitation Mail to your friends for better spread of words all over · Join us here in Kolkata during THE RAINBOW FESTIVAL 2005 · Fund or Sponsor any particular or partial expense of the festival · Volunteer with you capacity and talents to make this festival a better success Any amount is welcome in cheque/draft/money order payable to : PALM AVENUE INTEGRATION SOCIETY And to be posted to : RAFIQUEL HAQUE DOWJAH 84 Jhawtalla Road, Flat No.2 Kolkata 700 017, India Friends from USA, UK, Canada can send their contribution in check or in cash to Dr. Aditya Kar at the address given below : Dr. Aditya Kar 240 Renaissance Pkwy #207 Atlanta, GA 30308 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For any clarification you may call at : 91-9831271542 or 91-9339029922 Or mail at : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Needing Your Best Wishes & Early Response With Solidarity RAFIQUEL HAQUE DOWJAH Secretary INTEGRATION Society Kolkata, India IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Love and Let People Love Their Way . . .----------------------------------------------------------------------------- --\ -----------* DO FORWARD THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN. WE NEED TO SPREAD THE WORD ALL OVER. THANKS Group Site: http://www.gaybombay.info ========================== This message was posted to the gay_bombay Yahoo! Group. Responses to messages (by clicking "Reply") will also be posted on the eGroup and sent to all members. If you'd like to respond privately to the author of any message then please compose and send a new email message to the author's email address. Post:- gay_bombay@yahoogroups.com Subscribe:- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Digest Mode:- [EMAIL PROTECTED] No Mail Mode:- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Individual Mail Mode:- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Contact Us:- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives are at http://www.mail-archive.com/gay_bombay%40yahoogroups.com/maillist.html Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gay_bombay/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
