Minutes, 30th September 2015

Please find a summary of the discussion at the CSMR meeting yesterday evening. I have listed the matters in the order they were discussed, but note that decisions taken by the group will be circulated in separate e-mails with the opportunity to propose alternative positions as desired.

The next meeting will be held this Saturday October 3, 2015 @ ALF. 6:30pm

Meeting began with updates to currently scheduled events.

1.Queer Pub Quiz (Danish). Tentatively Scheduled for Oct. 20 at Vapour (100 Ft Rd, Indiranagar). Currently awaiting confirmation of the venue.

2.Seminar on 377 (Gowthaman). Tentative date changed from Oct. 1 (which obviously didn't happen) to Nov. 7. Event will include historical context of litigation pertaining to 377 and discussion about future courses of action at the local, state, and national levels. 

-It is possible to use ALF program funds for this event, which would allow the organizers to invite speakers/participants from outside Bangalore; however, this means that, per the current position of CSMR, the event would be sponsored only by ALF, happen during the Pride, but NOT be listed as a Pride event or directly connected to CSMR. 

-There was some debate about whether a larger event sponsored by ALF was desirable, but the consensus at the meeting was in favor of an ALF organized event on 377. 

3. Street Play (Padmini). Script is written; in progress.

4. Queer Poetry Reading and Open Mic Night (Rohini). Need to follow up on status of these events.

5. Consultation with trans community in RPC Layout, etc. (Kumar). To be organized through Payana. See message on CSMR list earlier today (01/10) for update. Email Kumar if interested.

6. Queer Sports Day (Akkai and Bhuvi). Oct. 31st at Malleshwaram Ground.

7. Flashmob (Naveen). Practices are ongoing. Contact Naveen if interested. There was a discussion about whether it was necessary to take police permission or only to give notice (intimation) to police that dance will be taking place. Delhi and Mumbai flashmobs took police permission, but may not be strictly necessary.

8. Queer Cycling to BBMP office to demand subsidized cycles (Gowthaman). CSMR approached by Bums on the Saddle cycling company (BotS); however, given CSMR guidelines, cannot co-sponsor an event with this company. Coordination with their existing cycling clubs around Bangalore is possible since those groups already include queer people, and clubs can coordinate directly with CSMR on the event. 

9. International Transgender Day of Remembrance. November 20. This will include a candlelight vigil at Victoria Statue in Cubbon Park and a prior screening of a film at ALF (details forthcoming). Identify those interested or willing to speak publicly at vigil.

10. Kothu Party. There was a long discussion about whether a party is a good fundraiser for Pride activities, given that parties have excluded trans people, cross dressers, etc. in the past. Decision: CSMR will not sponsor or accept funds from any party that excludes any member of the community. If a party has any exclusions listed then better not to have a party, or to organize in an accepting, open venue. There needs to be complete transparency in any party organizing done under CSMR. 

11. Diversity Mela: NOT HAPPENING THIS YEAR.

12. Garage Sale. Contact Rovan and ____(?)

13. Funding. Decision: CSMR funds for Pride will be hosted by a rotating member organization; this year ALF will host. (contact: Ramya). There is some time sensitive pressure to have funds collection up and running. Crowdfunding website in process of being set up. 

14. Siddharth spoke about organizing the Pride events in 2012 and the significant participation from diverse communities that year. This has not been replicated since. This included a mela in the open area behind Ravindran Kalakshetra. Through sustained engagement and outreach it was possible to expand participation in Pride events.

-The second point was that events often do not cost as much as people imagine while planning them, especially the parade itself. This led to discussion about the logic of paying for a venue to host a fundraiser. Is this a good idea if the money raised just goes back to that venue and not to future community events?

15. Need for a list of queer friendly spaces in Bangalore where events can be held. 

Includes: 

Humming Tree

Paradigm Shift

Samsa

Atta Glatta

Open Solace 

[Feel free to add!]

If I have missed anything, please let me know. See you all on Saturday.

Best,

Scott