A conclave on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community was organised by IIM-ally the LGBTQ Resource Group of the IIMA on Sunday. IIM-ally aims to create a more supportive and affirming environment for all individuals on campus, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, expression or any other form of human diversity. The conclave comprised three major events – a sensitisation workshop, film festival and a panel discussion. The workshop by Udayan Dhar, a diversity consultant at MINGLE, was a case-based interactive session. It aimed at promoting the understanding of workplace practises that help increase inclusion and inculcate a sense of belonging among the LGBTQ community.

A session by Ashok Row Kavi, chairman and founder of The Humsafar Trust and pioneer queer rights activist shed light on unexplored avenues like problems persisting in India owing to poor knowledge about issues of male sexuality, especially with regard to its effects on women and children. KASHISH Forward, India's first campus travelling queer film festival and Best of KASHISH, South Asia's largest queer film festival, portrayed unexplored aspects of the community through several documentaries and narrative short films. The festival aimed at spreading information about the evolution of the LGBTQ protest movements over the years, inclusion of the community to champion other causes such as equality, problems faced by the rural LGBTQ community members and the legal issues. ‘Breaking Free', a national award winning film, directed by Sridhar Rangayan, founder of KASHISH was also screened. A panel discussion on ‘East and the West - Reflections upon LGBTQ movements in India and the West' was also held.

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