The Apostolic Carmel Sisters organized a unique Christmas celebration with transgender community in Bengaluru, giving a message of gender equality and inter-religious amity.
The celebration held a week ago at the Apostolic Carmel Generalate in Jayanagar in collaboration with the Teachers Training Institute at the same campus attracted 57 transgenders, several teachers and general public.
The principal of the Sacred Heart Teachers’ Training Institute, Sr. Clarice welcomed the transgenders by offering them a rose. “Christmas is for all and the presence of trangender community has added more meaning to our celebration”, said the Apostolic Carmel nun who invited the special group this year.
According to 2011 survey in India, there are 487,803 transgender population in India. Bengaluru city alone has over 10,000 Transgenders among a 13 million population, most of them live by either sex work, begging or religious activities.
“We need to build a world of love including those who are rejected by the society”, said Fr. Joseph Naveen Kumar, the parish priest of the Christa Prabhalaya Church, Jayanagar who led a prayer of blessing on the occasion. Appreciating the initiative taken by the Apostolic Carmel Sisters to include transgenders for their celebration, he said this was in tune with the call of Pope Francis.