Chennai has LGBT cultures that are diverse with respect to socio-economic class, gender, and degree of visibility and politicisation. They have historically existed in the margins, and surfaced primarily in contexts such as transgender activism and HIV prevention initiatives for men having sex with men (MSM) and transwomen (TG). Community development may be traced back to Sunil Menon's mapping of sexual networks among MSM and TG in the early 1990s and subsequent formation of Sahodaran, the oldest group of its kind in the city and state to provide spaces for community support and sexual health, primarily for working-class MSM who visit public cruising spots.
There are currently over 15 groups in Chennai that work on LGBTQI issues. Most of them are community-run initiatives, and some are NGOs.
Most of these groups are part of the informal Chennai Rainbow Coalition, formed in 2009, to jointly work towards visibility and advocacy. The group was expanded in 2014 to constitute the Tamil Nadu Rainbow Coalition, with membership from groups around the state.
Other progressive groups such as Nirmukta (Chennai Free Thinkers), Prajnya, the Save Tamils movement, and the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Association are also strong supporters of gender/sexuality rights.
Chennai has two research institutes that partner with community groups to conduct social science and biomedical research on LGBT issues. The Centre for Sexuality and Health Research and Policy has published extensively on issues such as stigma and discrimination faced within the healthcare system by MSM and transwomen, legal recognition of transgender identity, and other issues. The National Institute for Research on Tuberculosis (NIRT), in partnership with the community group Sahodaran and Harvard University School of Public Health carries out studies of mental health and HIV prevention among men who have sex with men.
1986: Screening of My Beautiful Laundrette at British Council – same-sex love depicted on the big screen for the first time in Chennai
1993: Publication of Robert Oostvogels and Sunil Menon's mimeograph 'Men Who Have Sex With Men-Assessment of situation in Madras', prepared for the Government of Tamil Nadu
1993: Sekar Balasubramaniam, a volunteer of Community AIDS Network (CAN), comes out as gay and HIV-positive.
1998: Sahodaran, first group for sexual minorities formed in Chennai
1999: Mailing list gaychennai started on yahoogroups.com, first listserv for the Chennai gay community
1999: 'Queer Madras of the mid-80s' essay circulated on Indian LGBT lists
2003: Movenpick group formed (later renamed Orinam) and mailing list started
2004: First LGBT film festival – Alliance-Francaise and SAATHII, with volunteer support from Movenpick/Orinam
2005: The Many Colours of Love: LGBT documentary festival - Alliance Francaise and SAATHII, with volunteer support from Movenpick/Orinam
2006: Conference on third gender organised by Nalamdana
2006: Orinam.net website launched
2006: March for transgender rights when legislative assembly was in session in TN, organised by Sangama, THAA, SWAM, and other groups. Catalysed TN govt initiatives for transgender welfare.
2006: Suicide by self-immolation of transgender teenager Pandiammal/Pandian, sexually abused by Chennai police
2007: Madras High Court ruling in Jayalakshmi vs. State of Tamil Nadu by AP Shah
2007: Sangama establishes Chennai chapter
2007: Police advocacy on sexuality issues initiated by Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society, implemented by community groups
2007: Shakti Resource Centre formed, organises film series Desire and Sexuality at LV Prasad Film and TV Academy
2008: Rose Venkatesan becomes first out transwoman talk show host on Chennai television
2008: Double-suicide of Christy and Rukmini
2008: Peer-counseling preparatory workshop (4 sessions: June 8, June 15, June 22, July 6) of Shakthi Resource Centre in collaboration with Sahayatrika, Sahodaran, Orinam/MP, and Lotus Sangam.
2008: Aravani (Transgender) Welfare Board constituted by state government
2009: Thirunangai.net, world's first matrimonial website for transwomen, launched by Kalki Subramaniam of Sahodari Foundation
2009: Shakthi Resource Centre and Orinam/MP joint meeting Sept 12 to assess needs for peer counselling workshop
2009: Peer-counseling multi-weekend course of Shakthi Resource Centre and Center for Counselling.
2009: Public screening of Milk, organised by US Consulate at Film Chamber, as part of the Oscars film festival.
2009: The Hindu, national newspaper published from Chennai, features editorial in support of LGBT rights post- Naz decision
2009: First Chennai Rainbow Pride March
2009: Campaign for Open Minds launched
2009: Chennai Rainbow Coalition started
2009: First meet for parents of LGBT people in Chennai organised by Center for Counselling.
2009: Reverend George Zachariah delivers inspiring sermon at Gurukul Chapel calling on Christians to be inclusive of LGBT people
2009: Transwoman Narthaki Nataraj conferred Nrityachoodamani title by Krishna Gana Sabha
2010: First edition of 'Our Children'/'Nam Kuzhanthaigal' booklet for parents of LGBT children released by Orinam
2010: Chennai Dost formed
2010: Launch of Tamil edition of the 'Love That Dare Speak Its Name' post-377 anthology by Sangama Chennai
2010: RIOV, social group for lesbians and bisexual women
2011: Maatruveli (மாற்றுவெளி), Tamil academic journal brings out a special issue on sexuality, guest edited by Ponni and Aniruddhan Vasudevan
2011: Chennai Dost website launched
2011: Chemistry Club campus groups launched by Chennai Dost
2011: Public protests against homophobic remarks made by Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad
2011: Standard Deviation: first essay published on campus by a gay IIT-Madras student (then anonymous) makes waves
2012: Orinam's Quilt (reading group) launched.
2013: First officially sponsored LGBT sensitization event at IIT-Madras
2013: Chennai Rainbow Film Festival, organised by Chennai Dost and Alliance Francaise
2013: Reel Desires: Chennai International Queer Film Festival, organised by a collective of groups - Orinam, Goethe-Institut, RIOV, Nirangal, SAATHII, East-West Center for Counselling, Shakthi Resource Centre, Oye!Chennai
2013: Nirangal registered as an NGO (formerly Sangama Chennai)
2013: Orinam launches 377 archives
2014: Orinam launches 377letters, an online archive of letters to the Chief Justice of India opposing the Supreme Court verdict
2014: First homophobic rally in Chennai, by Christians Against Homosexuality
2014: Christians Against Homophobia started in response to Christians Against Homosexuality. Mailing list goes national.
2014: Tamil Nadu Rainbow Coalition formed
2014: First book on Genderqueer in Tamil and first Tamil book on LGBTQIA from Srishti Madurai was released by BJP’s state general secretary Vanathi Srinivasan at the 6th Hindu spiritual service foundation’s sixth service fair, Chennai
2014: Nir, queer feminist collective, formed
2014: Vannam, IIT Madras queer collective formed
2015: Tamil movie "I" by Shankar released, with transphobic depictions, community protests throughout state
2015: Thirunangai (transwoman) Bhavana sexually assaulted by Pulianthope police after detention for an alleged crime (Jan 22)
2015: Chennai Rainbow Film Festival 2015, organized by Chennai Dost conducted on June 26–28.
2015: TamilNadu LGBTIQ Facebook page Launched
2015: Tamil Nadu LGBTIQ Website cum NEWS portal launched
2015: Tamil Nadu LGBTIQ organized online campaign for HIV Awareness on Dec 1st
2016: Madras High Court questions Centre on absymal state of LGBT rights in India
2016: Community gathering, candlelight vigil and press meet leading up to Supreme Court decision on Curative Petition on Jan 31
2016: Valentine's Day 14th Special Programme for LGBTIQ Community People By Tamil Nadu LGBTIQ Movement
2016: On March 6 Srishti Madurai's new website launched by Dalit activist and Ambedkarite Ma. Venkatesan from BJP in the presence of Central Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, Vanathi Srinivasan, Aravindan Neelakandan, Joe D'Cruz and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh volunteers at Chennai.
2016: Community gathering and press meet for trans inclusion in political parties campaigning in state elections
2016: Queer and Allies Art Festival (QAAF) performances in Chennai, organised by MIST, May 8
2016: LGBT activists hold candlelight vigil in Chennai for Orlando victims
