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CHANDIGARH: With an aim to change mindsets, a group of youngsters from city are all set to organize the first ever national transgender fashion walk on Friday. This will be the first of its kind initiative for the promotion of transgender community in the north region. The idea came after the students, studying in different colleges and Panjab University got to interact with members of transgender community who are

among the first ones to openly come out as transgender and also first ones to get admission at university level.

Called Transform it has participants from across the country walking the ramp for one sole reason, recognition, for once the marginalized claim the centre stage. Most of them are coming from Goa, Mumbai, Delhi and Lucknow.

"Fashion is the means by which we express who we are and who we want to be, there could be no better platform then to stage an event that wants to show society who we can be," said Ravneet Kaur, a member.

For the cause a group of youngsters from different colleges came under the banner of CREW (Changing, Reforming and Empowering the World), an initiative aimed at educating world about gender. Dhananjay Chauhan, the first transgender student of the Panjab University is a member of the group.

The event is unique also because it is the first event being organized by the non-transgender community for the benefit of Transgender community.

"Panjab University recognizes Transgender people but acceptance in society is lacking and that's what we aim to change. The event is small step towards accepting differences. As responsible citizens, the need of the hour is to educate and spread awareness about the discriminatory practices in society," said Abhimanyu Bhardwaj, the President of CREW.

Sharing an instance that motivated her to be a part of the group Muskan Solanki said "I remember I was once driving on NH1 heading towards Chandigarh when I saw a guy approach a Transgender person. He literally molested them. But no one said a word. They're not even given jobs. How unfair can we be? Can we punish them for something that society deems as abnormal?"

"We are group of students of different colleges and different university departments. The situation of the transgender community in the city saddens us and so through this fashion show we decided to give an opportunity this marginalized community, we are bringing them in the mainstream so that they can showcase their talents .There will walk the ramp, Classical Dance, and Folk Songs," said Gurpreet Singh, member.

The core team also includes Ayush Grover, Simrat Cheema, Deeksha Bhardwaj, Divya Oberoi, Prakriti Rana, Simran Chahal, Vageesh Marwaha and Vandita Gandhi