South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Tuesday 23 June

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South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Tuesday 23 June

Never miss a beat when it comes to the latest news in South Africa, be sure to review the day’s major headlines on Tuesday 23 June.

As former President Jacob Zuma faces his long-awaited day in court on charges of fraud and corruption, disgruntled taxi associations vow to continue protest action in Gauteng following unsuccessful engagements with Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula.

TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Tuesday 23 JUNE

Jacob Zuma: Pre-trial proceedings

Despite a last-ditch effort to postpone the long-awaited corruption trial, former President Zuma will appear before KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg as pre-trial proceedings get underway. After a protracted period of legal wrangling, which saw court cases dismissed and postponed over the course of the last decade, Zuma will finally have his day in court.

Zuma, along with French arms manufacturer Thales, stands accused of corruption, fraud and racketeering in connection with the infamous arms deal. Zuma, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, has been fighting charges since 2005. It’s further alleged that Zuma — and his cohorts, many of whom have already served jail time for their role in the arms deal — profited from lucrative bribes and procurement irregularities.

Public Works Minister, Patricia de Lille, who originally acted as one of the primary whistleblowers before Parliament, has agreed to testify against the former president.

Pre-lockdown unemployment figures

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) will today release the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the first quarter in 2020. While the unemployment figures are set to rise above 29.1%, the data represented concerns pre-lockdown statistics. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently warned that the economic fallout resulting from the prolonged lockdown would certainly see unemployment figures soar.

Projections presented by the National Treasury show that the unemployment rate may rocket to 50% as a result of lockdown’s disastrous economic impact.

On Monday, Stats SA revealed that its head office — which was due to welcome members of the media covering the findings of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey — would be remain closed after a staffer tested positive for the coronavirus.  

Taxi drivers vow to continue protests

Disgruntled taxi drivers who took to the streets of Gauteng in protest against government’s ‘insufficient’ financial assistance have vowed to continue striking until minister Mbalula’s reviews the current relief offer. On Monday, thousands of commuters were left stranded due to the taxi strike, with blockades halting traffic in Tshwane and reports of intimidation towards motorists and bus passengers forcing police to intervene.

Police officers and National Defence Force (SANDF) personal dispersed crowds of striking taxi drivers with tear gas and rubber bullets.

Mbalula, who visited the scene in an attempt to ease frustrations, was forced to retreat when striking drivers became overly aggressive and threatening. Protesters, who have rejected government’s offer of a once-off R1.1 billion relief package, say that they will continue to shutdown taxi services in the area.

Mbalula condemned the violence and encouraged law enforcement agencies to uphold order and protect the rights of other road users.

Mboweni adds final touches to emergency budget

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni is busy putting the finishing touches on an ‘emergency budget’ which is due to be tabled before Parliament on Wednesday. In addition to dealing with the strain of pre-lockdown predicaments — including record levels of unemployment, ratings downgrades, and sluggish economic growth — Mboweni will now need to compete with a host of new coronavirus-related challenges.

With analysts predicting an economic decline of between 6 and 12%, Mboweni is likely to announce radical economic reforms which include decreasing the burgeoning public wage bill and moving towards free market ideals. This, however, is likely to be met with disdain by the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

LATEST WEATHER FORECAST, Tuesday 23 JUNE

Take a look at weather forecasts for all nine provinces here.

LIVE TRAFFIC UPDATES FOR CAPE TOWN, JOHANNESBURG AND DURBAN

Stay one step ahead of the traffic by viewing our live traffic updates here.

HOROSCOPE TODAY

Free daily horoscope, celeb gossip and lucky numbers for Tuesday 23 June.



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9NEWS Live Blog: Follow Breaking news and Live Updates

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9NEWS Live Blog: Follow Breaking news and Live Updates

A Coles worker from a distribution centre in Melbourne’s west has tested positive to coronavirus.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) visited the Laverton site this morning, following the diagnosis.

Coles confirmed to 9News in a statement a small number of team members have been directed to self-isolate and be tested for COVID-19 after being in close contact with the infected staffer.

“Coles has been working closely with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services,” the statement read.

“The safety of our team members and customers is our number one priority and Coles has high standards in place for hygiene at all stores, distribution and support centres.”

Coles distribution team members did not manually handle individual grocery products, the statement read.

All distribution centres had thermal imaging cameras and hand-held contactless thermometers to check the temperature of all team members and transport providers before entering the facility.

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Mourners pay tribute to Rayshard Brooks at public viewing in Atlanta

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Mourners pay tribute to Rayshard Brooks at public viewing in Atlanta

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Mourners lined up Monday to pay tribute to Rayshard Brooks, the man an Atlanta police officer fatally shot after responding to a call that Brooks had fallen asleep in a fast-food drive-through. 

A public viewing was heldT in Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, which was Martin Luther King Jr.’s church. Masks were required amid social distancing guidelines. 

Performers played live music, and people were ushered into the church in front of Brooks’ gold-colored coffin for brief moments of reflection.

A large screen inside the church beamed Brooks’ image, name and date of birth and death.

“We want to come in peace and we want to go in peace. We didn’t want to get caught up in a crowd of unrest,” said Latoya Spikes, 40, who brought her daughter, 12-year-old Morgan Green. “We just wanted to come and show our respects.”

Brooks’ death on June 12 sparked widespread outrage and protests in Atlanta and beyond. Within days of the shooting, Police Chief Erika Shields stepped down from her post, officer Garrett Rolfe was fired and charged with 11 counts, including felony murder, and officer Devin Brosnan was placed on administrative duty and faces three charges.

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Brooks, who was Black, failed a sobriety test and was being handcuffed when he struggled to get away from police. Video from the scene shows Brooks fleeing with an officer’s Taser when an officer shoots him from behind. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office ruled Brooks’ death a homicide. He was 27.

“I didn’t know Rayshard Brooks but, just like George Floyd, we know him now,” said Manerva Harris, 42, who wore a shirt reading “I CAN’T BREATHE.” She used an umbrella to shield herself from intense afternoon sun while she waited in line.

On Tuesday at 1 p.m. EDT, a private funeral service for Brooks’ family will be held, also at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Last week, Brooks’ family attorney, L. Chris Stewart, announced that Tyler Perry would be paying for the funeral costs. 

The Rev. Raphael G. Warnock, senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church and a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, will give the eulogy. Gospel singers Smokie Norful, Tamela Mann and Kurt Carr are expected to perform.

Brooks is being remembered as a “girl dad” by his loved ones, according to a release. He will be buried in Atlanta.

“Rayshard Brooks wasn’t just running from the police. He was running from a system that makes slaves out of people,” said a preview quote from the eulogy that was released Monday. “A system that doesn’t give ordinary people who’ve made mistakes a second chance, a real shot at redemption.”

Ebenezer, founded in 1886, is the home to the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic Site and includes several buildings around the King home on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta’s historic Sweet Auburn district, according to the church’s website. 

The Rev. Martin Luther King Sr. became pastor in 1931 and was joined by his oldest son in 1960.

Contributing: The Associated Press

Breaking down the video: Legal scholars break down key moments in shooting timeline

A look at the allegations: Rayshard Brooks was kicked, denied medical care: The stunning allegations against ex-Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe

Why police stick together: Devin Brosnan likely won’t break ‘blue wall of silence’ to testify against Garrett Rolfe

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China launches final Beidou satellite to complete GPS-like navigation system

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China launches final Beidou satellite to complete GPS-like navigation system

China successfully launched the final member in its Beidou satellite constellation Tuesday (June 23) completing a new global navigation system decades in the making.

A Long March 3B rocket launched the final Beidou Navigation Satellite (BDS) into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China. Liftoff occurred at  9:43 a.m. Beijing time  (9:43 p.m. EDT June 22 or 0143 GMT on Tuesday) after a weeklong delay due to a technical problem with the rocket.  



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How will MLB & MLBPA relationship change after tense negotiations? | Instant Analysis – Sportsnet.ca

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How will MLB & MLBPA relationship change after tense negotiations? | Instant Analysis – Sportsnet.ca

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Trump Baselessly Accuses Obama Of ‘Treason’

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Trump Baselessly Accuses Obama Of ‘Treason’

US President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of “treason” without evidence on Monday, again attempting to recast an investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign’s ties to Russia as an effort by Obama to spy on him.

In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network, Trump levied specific charges against his predecessor for the first time. There is no evidence that the Obama White House was involved in an FBI investigation into Trump aides’ ties to Russia during the 2016 campaign, which later grew into special counsel Robert Mueller’s inquiry.

“Treason. It’s treason,” Trump told CBN’s David Brody. “Look, when I came out a long time ago, I said they’ve been spying on my campaign, I said they’ve been taping…”

“Turns out I was right,” the president continued. “Let’s see what happens to them now.”

Trump said later in the CBN interview that if similar crimes had been committed “100 years ago, or 50 years ago, they would have been executed.”

“We’re in a different time. You understand what I mean by that. They spied on the opposing party’s campaign, and we caught them,” he said. “I just hope I get tremendous evangelical Christian support.”

An independent report by the Justice Department found that, at the end of last year, the FBI’s initial investigation was opened properly and was acted upon without political bias, undercutting the Trump administration’s claims that it was a conspiracy. The report did find that the probe was rushed and had errors in how the agency handled some documents.

But, despite those findings, Trump has continued to cast blame on the Obama administration even as his first four-year term comes to its conclusion. This year, the president has routinely blasted his predecessor for a bevy of unspecified crimes he’s labeled “Obamagate,” although it’s unclear what impropriety he’s referencing other than using a catchphrase to try to score political points. 

Trump had until Monday resisted accusing Obama of an actual crime. When asked about his accusations by a Washington Post reporter last month, the president shot back: “You know what the crime is. The crime is very obvious to everybody. All you have to do is read the newspapers, except yours.”

“It’s been going on for a long time,” Trump added then.

Attorney General William Barr appointed John Durham, a federal prosecutor, to investigate the origins of the Russia investigation more than a year ago amid ongoing demands from the White House.

“I think spying on a political campaign is a big deal,” Barr told senators at the time. “I think spying did occur.”

However, last month Barr said that neither Obama nor former Vice President Joe Biden were under scrutiny in Durham’s investigation.

“I don’t expect Mr. Durham’s work will lead to a criminal investigation of either man,” the attorney general said. “Our concern over potential criminality is focused on others.”

Obama has largely avoided public bickering with Trump. Shortly after the president shared a series of “Obamagate” missives on Twitter, Obama offered a terse reply.

“Vote.”



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China, Japan dispute over islands may trigger new political tension: Report

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China, Japan dispute over islands may trigger new political tension: Report



A dispute between China and Japan over the chain of Senkaku/ Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea may trigger new political tension in Asia over the years, said analysts.


China shares its borders with 14 countries but it is in loggerhead with most nations over territories including islands.



Tensions over the rocky chain, 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometres) southwest of Tokyo, have simmered for years, and with claims over them dating back hundreds of years, neither Japan nor China is likely to back down over territory considered a national birthright in both capitals, CNN reported.


Both Tokyo and Beijing claim the uninhabited islands, known as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyus in China, as their own, but Japan has administered them since 1972.


But since mid-April, Japan has spotted 67 Chinese government ships near the waters of the islands. If Japan retaliates, it could trigger a conflict that will even bring the United States on to the table as Washington is obligated to defend Tokyo, due to a mutual defence treaty signed between the two countries, in case any foreign power attacks the Japanese territory.


Last week’s announcement from the Japanese coastguard that Chinese government ships had been spotted in the waters close to Senakaku/Diaoyu Islands has further heightened fears of a possible confrontation.


In response to the increased Chinese presence, Yoshihide Suga, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, reasserted Tokyo’s resolve at a news conference last Wednesday.


“The Senkaku Islands are under our control and are unquestionably our territory historically and under international law. It is extremely serious that these activities continue. We will respond to the Chinese side firmly and calmly,” Suga said.


In a statement cited by CNN on Friday, China’s Foreign Ministry echoed that the Japanese government’s sentiments, from the reverse perspective.


“The Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are an inherent part of China’s territory, and it is our inherent right to carry out patrols and law enforcement activities in these waters,” the statement read.


Similar comments were recently published in China’s state-run Global Times newspaper. The report, titled “Japanese conservatives disrupt recovering China-Japan ties by hyping Diaoyu Islands dispute,” criticised attempts underway in Japan’s Okinawa prefecture to change the administration of the islands, noting it could do serious harm to Japan-China relations.


Japan formally recognised the chain of islands as part of the Japanese sovereign territory in 1895. A group of settlers manufactured dried fish and collected feathers, with the islands having more than 200 inhabitants at one point, according to Japan’s Foreign Ministry.


Japan then sold the islands in 1932 to descendants of the original settlers, but the factory failed around 1940 and the islands were eventually deserted. The Japanese surrender at the end of World War II in 1945 only served to further cloud the issue.


The islands were administered by the US occupation force after the war. But in 1972, Washington returned them to Japan as part of its withdrawal from Okinawa.


Meanwhile, self-governing Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a Chinese province, also claims ownership of the chain.


The defence of the Senkaku/Diaoyus has been a priority for Japan even in the past few years as Tokyo has established new military bases nearby to protect the islands. The Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) has also been building up its marines and drilling them on island warfare.


Although the islands are uninhabited, there are economic interests involved, according to the CFR.


The islands have potential oil and natural gas reserves, are near prominent shipping routes, and are surrounded by rich fishing areas.


However, China’s current push for its claims in the Indo-Pacific, apart from the billion dollars worth Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) could trigger a possible clash in near future.



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Republican Group Relentlessly Dunks On ‘Disheveled’ Post-Rally Trump In New Ad

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Republican Group Relentlessly Dunks On ‘Disheveled’ Post-Rally Trump In New Ad

The Lincoln Project is not letting President Donald Trump’s very underwhelming campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, slide.

In a new attack ad dropped Monday, the anti-Trump Republican group hit the president for the second time in two days over the mediocre turnout at the event, which was supposed to kickstart his bid for reelection but ended up falling significantly short of the campaign team’s jacked-up expectations. Trump, who often touts his crowd sizes as an indicator of his support, had boasted that more than a million people had registered to attend, despite criticisms of scheduling a rally amid the coronavirus pandemic.

He ended up addressing a venue ringed by vast sections of empty seats.

“Your campaign was so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should,” The Lincoln Project tweeted alongside their new video, titled “Disheveled.”

Created on a Jurassic Park theme, the video shows Trump walking to Marine One on his way to the rally, set to the movie’s triumphant overture. On his return from the rally at the 19,200-capacity BOK Center, which local fire officials estimated roughly 6,200 people attended, a bad harmonica cover of the theme plays instead as a seemingly exhausted Trump disembarks the chopper with his tie undone.

A day earlier, alongside the release of another ad about the Tulsa rally’s lackluster attendance, Lincoln Project co-founder and Republican strategist Rick Wilson said Trump “can’t deliver on his wall. He can’t deliver on COVID-19 testing. And now he can’t even deliver crowds.”

Trump had prepared for a “record-setting” crowd, with his team establishing an overflow area outside the center where he and Vice President Mike Pence were supposed to give remarks before the rally. The outdoor appearance was ultimately scrapped when the was no overflow crowd.

The Lincoln Project’s video was viewed more than 3.5 million times Monday.



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Coronavirus has exacerbated schooling divides: Live updates

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Coronavirus has exacerbated schooling divides: Live updates

Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. I’m Kate Mayberry in Kuala Lumpur.

  • There are concerns the coronavirus outbreak in the US is ‘snowballing’ as states reopen and Americans reject face masks and social distancing.  

  • UNESCO says the pandemic has only exacerbated conditions that left nearly 260 million children excluded from school in 2018, urging governments to do more to help the most disadvantaged.

  • Worldwide, more than 9 million people have been confirmed to have the coronavirus. Nearly 4.5 million have recovered, while nearly 471,000 people have died, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Here are the latest updates:

Tuesday, June 23

03:15 GMT – Daegu files civil suit against church where outbreak started

The South Korean city of Daegu is taking legal action against the Shincheonji church and its founder claiming it hindered quarantine efforts and contributed towards mass infections of COVID-19 in February.

South Korea’s fourth biggest city is claiming damages of 100 billion won ($82.3 million), more than two thirds of its coronavirus spending, Yonhap reported.

Daegu’s first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported on February 18 in a woman who was a member of Shincheonji. City authorities said the sect failed to cooperate with tracing and quarantine efforts.

The lawsuit is meant to “soothe the damaged hearts of Daegu citizens who suffered from COVID-19 and to hold Shincheonji accountable,” said Jung Hae-yong who is a member of the team that prepared the case.

03:00 GMT – Tokyo Disney Resort to reopen on July 1

After months of closure, Tokyo’s Disney Resort will reopen on July 1.

Visitors will need to book in advance and have their temperature taken before they enter the theme parks – Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Seating will also be spaced and everyone will have to wear masks.

Tokyo’s popular Disney theme parks will reopen to visitors from July 1. The resort was closed on Feb 29 because of the coronavirus outbreak [File: Kaya Tomoyuki/EPA]

02:45 GMT – Australian state of Victoria battles COVID-19 resurgence

Australia’s southern state of Victoria is seeing a jump in coronavirus in the community and has extended its state of emergency July 12.

Victoria has the second biggest population in the country and officials say cases have spread because people are not being careful enough about keeping their distance from others, wearing a mask and taking other step to control the disease.

The main COVID-19 hotspots are in Melbourne.

02:30 GMT – South Korea adds 46 new cases, focus on ship in Busan

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the country added 46 new cases of coronavirus, most of which were imported, including a cluster linked to a Russian-flagged ship at port in Busan.

Some 16 members of the 21-man crew have been confirmed to have the virus. The captain, who left the ship before it set sail from Vladivostok, tested positive for COVID-19 in Russia. South Korea has put 160 port workers who came into contact with the crew in Busan into isolation.

Cluster infections in Seoul and outside the capital also continue to grow, Yonhap news agency reported. City authorities have said they may need to tighen movement restrictions again in order to control the spread of the disease.

01:15 GMT – China reports 22 new cases, mostly in Beijing

China’s National Health Commission has confirmd 22 new cases of coronavirus, 13 of them in Beijing.

The capital’s been battling a renewed outbreak of COVID-19, which is centered around the city’s main wholesale food market.

00:30 GMT -  Red Cross to provide 800,000 masks to Thailand migrant workers

The Red Cross says it will provide some 800,000 masks to migrant workers, village health volunteers and other front line workers to help protect people at risk from COVID-19 in Thailand.

Migrant workers are particularly at risk because many are undocumented.  

Thai Red Cross Society will provide reusable cloth face masks, alcohol gel and information materials, while migrant workers under quarantine will also receive relief kits including food and personal hygiene items.

“Migrants, especially those who are undocumented, face daily challenges which are further exacerbated by the health and socio-economic impacts of this pandemic,” said Christopher Rassi, Head of Delegation, Bangkok, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). “Red Cross is supporting migrant workers, who are some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and it’s vital that everyone can be safe from COVID-19.”

Thailand

A Red Cross worker in Thailand hands out COVID-19 information at an event for migrant workers [Thai Red Cross/Supplied] [-]

00:00 GMT – COVID-19 has exacerbated school exclusion: UNESCO

Nearly 260 million children missed out on school in 2018 and the coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated the problem, according to UNESCO.

The agency’s 2020 Global Education Monitoring Report says poorer children, girls, the disabled and immigrants are among those at a disadvantage, and that the situation got worse with COVID-19 when more than 90 percent of the world’s schoolchildren found their learning affected by closures.

While those from better-off families had internet and wifi connections and were able to use laptops and mobile phones, millions of youngsters were left out.

“Health crises can leave many behind, in particular the poorest girls, many of whom may never return to school,” wrote Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO’s director general. 

The report found 258 million children and young people were entirely excluded from education, with poverty as the main obstacle to access. In low- and middle-income countries, adolescents from the richest 20 percent of all households were three times as likely to complete lower secondary school as were as those from the poorest homes. 

Education on hold: School closures disadvantaging Africa’s poor

It said the pandemic was an opportunity for change.

“COVID-19 has given us a real opportunity to think afresh about our education systems,” said Manos Antoninis, Director of the Global Education Monitoring Report. “But moving to a world that values and welcomes diversity won’t happen overnight. There is an obvious tension between teaching all children under the same roof and creating an environment where students learn best. But, COVID-19 has showed us that there is scope to do things differently, if we put our minds to it.”

23:30 GMT – Alarm over cases ‘snowballing’ in parts of US

An alarming surge in coronavirus cases in parts of the United States following moves to ease lockdowns is raising concern that the outbreak is spiralling out of control because of Americans’ resistance to wearing masks and keeping their distance from others.

Cases surpassed 100,000 in Florida, hospitalisations are rising dramatically in Houston, and a startling one in five of those tested in Arizona have been confirmed to have the virus.

“It is snowballing. We will most certainly see more people die as a result of this spike,” said Dr Marc Boom, CEO and president of Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas. You can read more about what’s happening in the US here.

An Emergency room doctor paints a mural outside of Zuni restaurant to honor medical workers during coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic on June 22, 2020 in San Francisco, California. Doctors and medical work

There are concerns the coronavirus outbreak could spiral out of control in parts of the US, following a surge in cases in the wake of lockdown easings [Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via AFP/]

23:00 GMT – Saudi Arabia limits Hajj attendance

Saudi Arabia will hold only a “very limited” Hajj this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Only people already living in the country will be allowed to take part.

“It was decided to hold the pilgrimage this year with very limited numbers … with different nationalities in the kingdom,” the official Saudi Press Agency said on Monday, citing the Hajj ministry.

More than two million Muslims take part in the annual pilgrimage to Islam’s holy city of Mecca every year. This year’s event is due to take place in late July.

Read all the updates from yesterday (June 22) here.



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I’m on a mission to empower India’s transgender community, one painted palm at a time

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I’m on a mission to empower India’s transgender community, one painted palm at a time

Written by Kalki Subramaniam

Kalki Subramaniam is a transgender rights activist, artist and founder of the Sahodari Foundation. The opinions in this article belong to the author.

I remember my childhood so vividly. Until the age of 11, I was a playful, happy child at home, and a good student at school.

Growing up in rural India, I was considered the more privileged child among my two sisters, having been born male. Yet, deep inside, I longed to be my true self.

I was a naturally effeminate child. I felt uncomfortable being addressed as “he,” and it seemed like there was this girl inside who liked everything a little girl of my age liked. This made me a constant target. But I didn’t fear those big, bullying boys and would fight back, never ashamed of who I was.

Then, at the age of 14, I gave up. After I started losing interest in school, certain teachers became aggressive and would punish me with a cane. I could never tell my parents. Amid painful episodes of shame and self-doubt, I considered ending my own life, though my family’s love stopped me from doing so.

I cut class and would go to parks and forests to get away from everyone. Under the trees, I wrote poetry and imagined my future life in drawings, which helped me heal my inner wounds.

“I with in” by Kalki Subramaniam. Credit: Courtesy Kalki Subramaniam

When I finally came out as transgender to my parents, I was taken to a psychiatrist to help with my gender dysphoria, or the distress caused by the discrepancy between a person’s body and their gender identity. He asked me to draw how I saw myself in the future, so I drew a beautiful girl with a long skirt, hat and a big smile. He was taken aback, but he eventually helped me gain my family’s acceptance.

This is the dilemma faced by teen children with gender dysphoria. Unable to bear the bullying but terrified of disappointing their parents, they fear going to school and they fear dropping out, too. If they “out” themselves, only a few are accepted by their parents.

“The deepest wounds cannot heal until they are expressed. Practicing art helps us heal emotional injuries, by providing a safe opportunity for self-expression and shaping one’s identity.”

Kalki Subramaniam

When our families reject us, we find solace and refuge with other “hijras” who are also struggling to survive. In my lifetime, I have lost many transgender friends to suicide. Other friends died from AIDS.

As a teenager, I witnessed — and was the victim of — harassment. A transgender friend of mine, who was a sex worker, was raped by seven men. Another friend was chased by her own brother wanting to burn her. While another friend was driven out by her family. These childhood experiences built my raging desire for justice and inspired me to become an activist for the transgender community.

Healing through art

After completing my master’s degree in journalism, I started a magazine called Sahodari (or “sister”) to reach out to and support the transgender community. I used photographs, art and text to educate people about mental health, transitioning and their right to dignity.

Within a few years, I had founded the Sahodari Foundation and trained our team in visual storytelling.
Subramaniam pictured delivering a performance poetry piece.

Subramaniam pictured delivering a performance poetry piece. Credit: Sakthi Nithyanandan

Art has helped me identify my self-worth. It has been a medium for me to express my hope, joy, fear, anguish, desires and struggles. It is a reflection of my deep self that mirrors my journeys. It is a divine experience. When I paint, it is like my blood flows into the canvas and there is a soul connection. My artworks “The Purple Princess” and “I with in” celebrate the pure feminine and androgynous expressions with bright fluorescent colors. More recently, I have started to incorporate augmented reality into my artworks — a technology that will help provide another level of meaning and emotional engagement with audiences.

Many people in the community are artistic and creative, but they seldom have the opportunity to practice their art. I realized that our community could not only express themselves through art, they could make a living from it. That is how our Transhearts project was born. I traveled with my team to several cities and small towns in south India to offer free workshops on expressive painting. It has been a therapeutic experience for the participants. When they are making art, they forget time.
Participants create works during a Transhearts workshop.

Participants create works during a Transhearts workshop. Credit: Sahodari Foundation

We have exhibited the community’s artworks in galleries, universities, colleges and public spaces. The reception had been tremendously positive. When people see the artwork they can identify and empathize with us.

Each piece of art tells a story. Abinaya’s “The Struggling Sex Worker” was a moving work, very raw in portraying the exploitation of trans bodies. Viji D’s “Begging Cycle” expresses the anguish of asking for money from strangers in trains to meet her basic needs. Nayanthara’s “Finding Oneself” is beautiful, spiritual and powerful.

"Begging cycle" by Viji D

“Begging cycle” by Viji D Credit: Matilda Södergren

"Finding Oneself" by Nayanthara

“Finding Oneself” by Nayanthara Credit: Courtesy Kalki Subramaniam

The deepest wounds cannot heal until they are expressed. Practicing art helps us heal emotional injuries, by providing a safe opportunity for self-expression and shaping one’s identity. It can bring out our beautiful side. It can make us more tolerant of differences — and of one another.

Standing up against violence

Sexual violence is a terrible, horrible, health-affecting issue that transgender people have endured for decades. Research from the Indian states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka found that four in 10 transgender people will experience some form of sexual abuse before the age of 18. Many of us remain silent victims.
The Red Wall Project was created to empower the voices of India’s transgender and gender-diverse people, and to help resist the crimes perpetrated against us. It is a community “art-ivism” project whereby participants are interviewed by my team and write down their experiences of assault, abuse or rape on paper marked with their palm prints in red paint.

Listening to the experiences can be traumatizing, yet we are determined to do it. If we don’t tell our community’s stories, who will?

With their consent, we bring these stories to the public. During the exhibitions, I use my poetry and performance art to provoke dialogue about taking action against gender-based crimes.

Participants in the Red Wall project write their stories. Kalki sees the red painted palms signifying "a slap against abusers and a sign of resistance."

Participants in the Red Wall project write their stories. Kalki sees the red painted palms signifying “a slap against abusers and a sign of resistance.” Credit: Sahodari Foundation

The testimonials have been exhibited at the British council in Chennai, the Alliance Française in Trivandrum and various other educational and cultural institutions across India.

We want to reach out to India’s young people with our stories, and tell them that it is unacceptable to hurt people based on their gender identity. Through victims’ first-hand accounts, we can show them that we are human beings who deserve better treatment, respect and dignity.

Whenever we exhibit these testimonials, I see people reading them patiently for hours. I have seen visitors who, after reading, sit in silence in tears. Young people come to me and say, “What can I do to stop this violence? How can I be supportive?” And I tell them: “Educate yourself more, sensitize your family and your friends to be trans-friendly. Empathize with us. That is all we need.”

Struggle for recognition

For decades, our community has struggled for acceptance and equality. In 2014, hard-fought battles led to a milestone victory when India’s Supreme Court finally recognized transgender people as a “third gender.” It was a move I had long lobbied the judiciary for, and the legal recognition meant, for instance, that people could enroll at academic institutions, as openly transgender, without fear.

“The rainbow is shining bright and beautiful. I see hope.”

Kalki Subramaniam

Many corporations have started to hire transgender employees. Years of activism and awareness-building have resulted in many other welcome changes, including the positive portrayals of transgender people in mainstream media and films. In January 2020, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act came into effect, providing further legal protections of our rights and welfare.
Students read Red Wall testimonials. Kalki sees the red painted palms signifying "a slap against abusers and a sign of resistance." Exhibited together, she says the palms are a unified and powerful statement from victims seeking justice for the crimes committed against them.

Students read Red Wall testimonials. Kalki sees the red painted palms signifying “a slap against abusers and a sign of resistance.” Exhibited together, she says the palms are a unified and powerful statement from victims seeking justice for the crimes committed against them. Credit: Sahodari Foundation

There is still much work to be done. We are still fighting for affirmative action to ensure jobs and places at educational institutions. We want protection against stigma and discrimination, and legal guarantees that the punishments for crimes against transgender people will be severe.

But the rainbow is shining bright and beautiful. I see hope. I see a better future for our generation of queer Indians. I see India as a place that can uphold LGBTQI rights in the world. And I see India as a pioneer of transgender rights in the future.

For more on the author, visit her website.

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