Abhina Aher

2021-08-14T15:42:57Z

103.62.93.202:

{{short description|Indian transgender activist|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Orphan|date=June 2017}}

{{Use Indian English|date=December 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Infobox writer
| name = Abhina Aher
| image =
| birth_name =Abhijeet
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1977|9|19}}
| birth_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| occupation = Trans activist
| nationality = Indian
| alma_mater =
| image size =
| religion =
| Website =
}}'''Abhina Aher''' is an [[Indian people|Indian]] [[Transgender rights movement|transgender activist]] who has worked for transgender empowerment. She has worked with organizations such as [[Humsafar Trust|The Humsafar Trust]] (Mumbai), [[Family Health International]] (FHI), [[Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs|Johns Hopkins University Centre for Communication Programme]] (CCP) and [[India HIV/AIDS Alliance]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/discrimination-no-longer-my-favourite-word-finally-we-have-a-foot-in-the-door/|title=Discrimination no longer my favourite word… finally, we have a foot in the door|date=2014-04-16|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2017-05-19|language=en-US}}</ref> She is also an artist and the founder of Dancing Queens - a dancing group of transgender people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://magnamags.com/society/transgender-activist-abhina-aher-speaks-out/1506|title=Transgender activist, Abhina Aher speaks out : MagnaMags|website=magnamags.com|access-date=2017-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111012329/http://www.magnamags.com/society/transgender-activist-abhina-aher-speaks-out/1506|archive-date=11 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p032qs5v|title=Being Accepted by my Mum, Being Transgender: Isis King and Abhina Aher, The Conversation - BBC World Service|website=BBC|access-date=2017-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.jgu.edu.in/public/chlet//content/abhina-aher|title=Abhina Aher|work=CENTRE FOR HEALTH LAW ETHICS AND TECHNOLOGY|access-date=2017-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402132504/http://www.jgu.edu.in/public/chlet/content/abhina-aher|archive-date=2 April 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2014/04/18/304548675/a-journey-of-pain-and-beauty-on-becoming-transgender-in-india|title=A Journey of Pain And Beauty: On Becoming Transgender in India|work=NPR.org|access-date=2017-05-19|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.weareaptn.org/regionalsc/|title=Regional Steering Committee|website=APTN|language=en-US|access-date=2017-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112103754/http://www.weareaptn.org/regionalsc/|archive-date=12 November 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Abhina is also a TedX Speaker and has delivered talks in Delhi and Varanasi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/13213|title=TEDxUSICT {{!}} TED.com|website=www.ted.com|language=en|access-date=2017-05-19}}</ref> She is currently associated with [https://itech-india.org I-TECH India] as Technical Expert, Key Populations. She has more than two decades of experience in the HIV/AIDs sector.<ref name="https://itech-india.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.allianceindia.org/team/teamteamteamabhina-aher/|title=Abhina Aher - India HIV/AIDS Alliance|website=www.allianceindia.org|access-date=2019-06-15}}</ref> She has worked with various communities including men who have sex with men, transgender people, women engaged in sex work, intravenous drug users, and people living with HIV. She was also the programme manager of the Global Fund-supported programme 'Pehchan'.<ref name="allianceindia.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.allianceindia.org/team/teamteamteamabhina-aher/|title=Abhina Aher - India HIV/AIDS Alliance|website=www.allianceindia.org|access-date=2019-06-15}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Abhina was born as Abhijeet Aher in a middle class maharashtrian family in Mumbai.<ref name="Society">{{Cite web|url=http://societymag.co.in/article/features/transgender-activist-abhina-aher-speaks-out/1506|title=Transgender activist, Abhina Aher speaks out|last=Society|first=Team|date=2013-09-16|website=Stardust|access-date=2019-06-15}}</ref> Her mother was a trained Kathak dancer and worked for a government organization. She often performed at official functions. Abhina used to observe her keenly and tried to imitate her in private.<ref name="Proud Hijra - Abhina Aher">{{Cite web|url=https://queervoicesofindia.org/proud-hijra-abhina-ahir/|title=Proud Hijra - Abhina Aher|date=2018-03-30|website=Queer Voices of India|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-15}}</ref> Her father passed away when she was three-year old. She was raised by her mother singlehandedly and remarried later on.<ref name="Society"/>

== Biography ==
Aher participates in pride parades and works with national and international organisations to bring change for the trans community of India. She has been or is involved in different capacity with various organisations. She is a HIV consultant on trans issues for [[Global Action for Trans Equality]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://transactivists.org/2016/10/06/welcome-abhina/|title=Welcome Abhina!|date=2016-10-06|website=GATE|language=en|access-date=2017-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314051636/https://transactivists.org/2016/10/06/welcome-abhina/|archive-date=14 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> She is a steering committee member at the International Trans Fund United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://transactivists.org/2016/11/01/show-me-the-money-new-funding-and-leadership-opportunities-for-trans-activists-worldwide/|title=Show Me the Money! New Funding and Leadership Opportunities for Trans Activists Worldwide|date=2016-11-01|website=GATE|language=en|access-date=2017-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314041054/https://transactivists.org/2016/11/01/show-me-the-money-new-funding-and-leadership-opportunities-for-trans-activists-worldwide/|archive-date=14 March 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> She is a consultant of sexuality and gender projects and a national programme manager of the Pehchan programme at the India HIV/AIDS Alliance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-alvaro-bermejo/incredible-india-invest-_b_6977614.html|title=Incredible India, Invest in Communities!|website=HuffPost UK|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-05-19}}</ref> She is involved in Programme in Charge Communication on MARPs, USAID grant at Johns Hopkins University Centre for Communication. She is chair at Asia Pacific Transgender Network Bangkok, Thailand.<ref name=":0" />

Aher is the founder of a transgender dancing group called Dancing Queens. The group aims to use dance and expressions as a medium to break barriers and works on trans advocacy. The group was founded in 2009 and has performed in different cities.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cosmopolitan.in/life/news/a2298/this-dancing-troupe-highlights-the-problems-faced-by-transgenders-in-india/|title=This Dance Troupe Highlights the Problems Faced By Transgenders in India Everyday|date=2015-11-18|work=Cosmopolitan|access-date=2017-05-19|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/11/17/dancing-queens-transgende_n_8580666.html|title=This Transgender Troupe Uses Dance As A Way To Highlight The Problems They Face|website=Huffington Post India|access-date=2017-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.vagabomb.com/Meet-Indias-First-Transgender-Dance-Group-That-Deserves-All-Your-Respect/|title=Meet India's First Transgender Dance Group That Deserves All Your Respect|last=VagaBomb|date=2015-11-15|work=VagaBomb|access-date=2017-05-19|language=En}}</ref> In the year 2016, she also founded Tweet Foundation for empowering transgender individuals.<ref name="Proud Hijra - Abhina Aher"/>

Abhina experiences trouble during travelling when the officials for security at airports are curious about her transgender status. There has been several incidents at international airports where security officials (Both male and female) have refused to check her. She stands firm and explains them and try to sensitise them which is part of advocacy work that she does for the trans community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/general/indian-transgenders-uncomfortable-transit-at-abu-dhabi-airport|title=Transgender's 'uncomfortable' transit at Abu Dhabi airport|last=Kumar|first=Ashwani|website=www.khaleejtimes.com|access-date=2017-05-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/world/middle-east/041016/was-asked-if-i-was-a-man-or-woman-transgender-humiliated-at-abu-dhabi-airport.html|title='Are you a man or woman': Transgender humiliated at Abu Dhabi airport|date=2016-10-04|work=deccanchronicle.com/|access-date=2017-05-19|language=en}}</ref>

== Awards and accolades ==
*2014: REX awardee fellowship for her work towards trans empowerment in India.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}
*2017: Global Innovator from [[Human Rights Campaign]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hrc.org/blog/four-highlights-from-day-one-of-hrcs-global-summit|title=Four Highlights from Day One of HRC's Global Summit {{!}} Human Rights Campaign|last=Campaign|first=Human Rights|website=Human Rights Campaign|language=en|access-date=2017-05-19}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aher, Abhina}}
[[Category:LGBT people from India]]
[[Category:LGBT rights activists from India]]
[[Category:Indian civil rights activists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian motivational speakers]]
[[Category:Transgender rights activists]]
[[Category:Transgender and transsexual women]]
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:People from Mumbai]]

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Abhina Aher