AUD QueerFest

From March 5-7, Pratisandhi participated at the Queer fest hosted by the Queer Collective of Ambedkar University, Kashmere Gate, New Delhi. 

The fest sprang from the collective belief in the carnivalesque form of building solidarities. It considers queerness as any process that challenges the normative, the dominant, the majority. The fest contextualizes the present and peaks towards the future, for all queerness stands to confront, for all it may become. Queerfest has in the past hosted discussions, art exhibitions, theatre, dance, music and film screenings.

The Conference was open to the public and approximately 500+ people were in attendance over the course of three days. During the conference, attendees shared opinions, thoughts, and suggestions for consideration over various topics such as Queer Perspectives on Sexual Health. 

The event featured conversation series by the National Network of Sex Workers and AUDQC. It also showcased performative art installations by Instagram artist Azay and Kriti Film Club. The Ibtida Theatre Group also performed a play “Shaayad.”

During the fest, participants had the opportunity to witness various sessions to discuss topics and develop recommendations. Topics included: Queer Groups in Dilli; Collective Politics of Resistance; Sexual Health and Gender; Motherhood and Queerness; and the Silence around Sexual Harassment within Queer Circles. Each of the days also had a special screening of movies and documentaries such as Gender Me, Naach Bhikhari Naach, Breath, I’m not here, Ishq Dosti and all that, and Zara Nazar Utha ke Dekho. 

The fest concluded with live music at the closing night on 7 March 2019.