Vinodhan Dhanalakshmi
I don’t even know the intersectionality in our region, [people] who are Dalit, who are intersex, who are disabled. I don’t even hear something around the term intersectionality. Our voices are very low. Literally, it’s not there to shout something. We are screaming, but there is no opportunity to hear our voice, what we really want, what is our right. No one knows. So that is the motivation for this project. Because I belong to those communities — I am queer, I am intersex, and I am disabled and I am a Dalit schedule caste person. Vino Dhanalakshmi, Creator 2023
Vinodhan (Dhanalakshmi) calls themselves a proud intersex. They are engaging and working in various ways for intersex, persons with disabilities, and human rights activists. Vinodhan is currently pursuing their MBA in human resources. They also have an undergraduate degree in psychology and a diploma in nursing and radiology. Vinodhan is the founder of VoIS India Collective, which advocates for variations of intersectionality in support of intersex visibility in India. The collective was launched on October 26th, 2023, on Intersex Visibility Day. Vinodhan works with multiple stakeholders in the southern region of India. Vinodhan is one of the co-founders of Intersex Human Right for India (IHRI) and a former Intersex Asia fellow. Vinodhan has also written an autobiography titled Walking the Intersex Alley, which has been presented to various mental health and medical institutes for future generations to gain perspective on diversity.
கரு விளங்காய் | Karuvilangaai | I am I
Having grown up in Tamil Nadu as an intersex person with disabilities, Vino connects their personal experiences with those of others to publish a collection of stories of growing up and living at the intersections of intersex rights, caste, gender and sexual diversity, and disability. The book, கரு விளங்காய் Karuvilangaai (I am I), written in Tamil and then translated to English, is the first book in Tamil to explore the intersectional issues of people in Tamil Nadu. It is a compilation of forgotten stories that tell the impact of intersex stigma on communities and a call for intersex rights.
Vinodhan took up the difficult task of connecting with other intersex people in Tamil Nadu to collate narratives and organize events that brought visibility to the challenges faced by intersex people. Through these events they raised awareness on LGBTIQ+ issues in the disability community, led the sensitization of disability issues in the queer community, and held events on disability, gender, and sexuality with educators and stakeholders from non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
I have learned that unity is the most important aspect of the queer, intersex, and disability rights movements through this work. In the marginalized communities of disabled and queer communities, intersex communities are the micro-marginalized section. I believe that the united effort for social acceptance, legal rights, medical, educational, and employment help would bring about a major change with the combined work of marginalized communities. Different marginalized communities could raise relevant questions and their efforts have thus far reaped fewer benefits, while united work can bring about radical change and recognition in society. Vino Dhanalakshmi, Creator 2023
Vinodhan’s work highlights the lack of basic education around intersex rights and the role of culture and cultural expectations, particularly around gender, and the deep impact this has had and continues to have on individuals. The book also includes a set of guidelines for medical personnel, media, educational institutions, and the government to help mitigate these challenges.
Vinodhan pre-launched the book at an event in Chennai with the Aniyam Publishing House. The event included officials belonging to the governing political party in Tamil Nadu and various disabled and queer participants.
Vino is open for collaborations and/or requests to host this resource in alternative spaces.
pdf (english)
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