Citizen video's power to promote change has been proven in Raipur, India.  A screening of a video showing the hardships faced by the gay community enabled audience members from diverse backgrounds to relate to the discrimination and show their support by organizing a peaceful demonstration.

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Video Volunteer and India Unheard citizen journalist Sarwat Naqvi screened in Raipur his video on the search for identity in the gay community of Chhattisgarh. The video showed how discrimination, sexual abuse and lack of identity are only some of the problems faced by homosexual and eunuchs, who some consider to be India's ‘third gender‘.

Sarwat organized the screening with local women's union Samata Mayla Mandal, and in total about 45 people showed up, including homosexual and transgender audience members as well as locals who just wanted to be informed.

The results were positive: community members learned about issues affecting this traditionally invisible group and were moved to act, and homosexuals who watched the video were empowered to become part of the efforts to advocate for their rights and work on a more inclusive community.

IndiaUnheard is a community news service initiative of video volunteers whereby a network of community correspondents are trained to tell the stories about their own communities which are usually not told by other media.

Community correspondent for India Unheard. Image by Flickr user Video Volunteers(VV) (CC BY-SA 2.0).