Srishti Madurai

{{short description|First genderqueer & LGBTQIA student volunteer group of India}}

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox organization

|logo =

|name = Srishti Madurai

|founded = September 2, 2011 in Madurai, India

|location = Madurai

|homepage =

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Srishti Madurai was established on 2 September 2011 by Gopi Shankar Madurai as the first genderqueer and LGBT student volunteer group designed to address the problems of LGBT people in the non-metro cities of Tamil Nadu.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/voices-unheard/article3552408.ece|publisher=thehindu.com|title=Voices unheard - Madurai - The Hindu|newspaper=The Hindu |date=20 June 2012 |access-date=2018-02-03}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/south-india-city-madurai-celebrates-lgbt-and-more-pride310712/#gs.lthXwus|publisher=gaystarnews.com|title=South India city of Madurai celebrates LGBT (and more) Pride|access-date=2018-02-03}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/madurai-comes-out-of-the-closet/article3702689.ece|publisher=thehindu.com|title=Madurai comes out of the closet - The Hindu|newspaper=The Hindu |date=30 July 2012 |access-date=2018-02-03}} In October 2011, Srishti Madurai launched India's first helpline for intersex, genderqueer, and LGBT people in Madurai. In June 2013, the helpline turned to offer service for 24 hours with a tagline "Just having someone understanding to talk to can save a life".{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/24-hour-helpline-launched-for-LGBTs-in-Madurai/articleshow/20994000.cms?referral=PM|publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|title=24-hour helpline launched for LGBTs in Madurai | Madurai News - Times of India|newspaper=The Times of India |date=10 July 2013 |access-date=2017-05-12}} Srishti Madurai also organized Asia's first Genderqueer Pride Parade at Madurai.{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/madurai-comes-out-of-the-closet/article3702689.ece|title=Madurai comes out of the closet= The Hindu | website=The Hindu |date=2012-07-30 |access-date=2019-07-15}}

Srishti Madurai coined the regional Tamil terms for genderqueer people{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/a-tamil-book-on-gender-identities-sexual-orientations/article22438914.ece|title=A Tamil book on gender identities, sexual orientations |work=The Hindu |date=2018-01-14 |access-date=2019-07-15}} and published Maraikkappatta Pakkangal, the first book{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/book-in-tamil-sets-things-straight-about-lgbt-community/articleshow/62482193.cms|title=Book in Tamil sets things straight about LGBT community|work=The Times of India|date=13 January 2018 |access-date=2019-07-15}} on gender-variants in Tamil.{{cite web|url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/news/india/BJP-leader-launches-LGBT-rights-book-in-TN/articleshow/38157614.cms|title=BJP leader launches LGBT rights book in TN|work=Mumbai Mirror|access-date=2019-07-15}} On 22 April 2019, the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) passed a landmark judgment{{cite web|url=https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/transwoman-regarded-as-bride-madras-hc-bans-sex-re-assignment-surgeries-intersex-children-144467|title="Transwoman A 'Bride' Under Hindu Marriage Act": Madras HC; Also Bans Sex Re-Assignment Surgeries On Intersex Children [Read Judgment]|date=23 April 2019 |access-date=2019-04-24}} and issued a direction to ban sex-selective surgeries on intersex infants while referring to the work of Srishti Madurai.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ban-sex-reassignment-surgeries-intersex-infants-madras-hc-tells-tn-govt-100565|title="Ban sex reassignment surgeries on intersex infants Madras High Court tells Tamil Nadu Govt" - The News Minute|date=23 April 2019 |access-date=2019-04-24}} The Court took note of the rampant practice of compulsory sex reassignment surgeries performed on intersex infants and children.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/ruling-on-intersex-infants-madurai-activist-comes-in-for-praise-by-hc/articleshow/69016201.cms|title=Ruling on intersex infants: Madurai activist comes in for praise by High Court|website=The Times of India |date=24 April 2019 |access-date=2019-04-24}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/04/29/indian-court-decides-favor-informed-consent-rights-intersex-people|title=Indian Court Decides In Favor of Informed Consent Rights for Intersex People - Human Rights Watch|date=29 April 2019 |access-date=2019-07-15}}

The first ever state policy briefing on intersex human rights was organised with Intersex Asia Network, COC Netherlands and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July 2019.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/chennai-meeting-on-intersex-rights-to-be-held-on-friday/articleshow/70082559.cms|title=Policy Meeting on Intersex Rights to be held= The Times of India | website=The Times of India |date=2019-07-05 |access-date=2019-07-15}}