Transgender model asks 'why don't you?' on Blood Donors Day
Transgender modeling agency Bold is asking people why they don't donate blood to commemorate Blood Donors Day.
A transgender model asks 'Why don't you?' on Blood Donors Day / WATConsult
The campaign, conceptualised by WATConsult, revolves around how transgenders are not allowed to donate blood, but what is stopping others?
Rudrani Chettri Chauhan, founder, Bold, said: “As the third gender, the society discards our existence and more importantly our blood, which can save a million lives. Not every transgender carries the HIV virus, as the public believes. So why waste good blood?
"But people do so many things to judge us, hold us back and do not do their own bit. I don’t know whether its fear or thought or just ignorance but its time, and I ask them why? When you can judge us, stare us, belittle us then why not do something for the society and donate blood?”
The film features Rudrani Chettri Chauhan, a transgender who went against all odds to build India’s first LGBT modelling agency, highlighting the inequality transgender people have to face. She further urges people to stop judging them, but rather instead go and donate some part of their blood which could save someone's life.
As a part of the campaign, the agency has created a microsite wherein a donor can register and donate blood with a Mumbai-based blood donation bank, Triumph Blood Donation bank.
Rajiv Dingra, founder and CEO, WATConsult said: “Bold is a transgender modelling agency and we wanted to use them as models in issue-based causes that affect all of us and not just transgenders. Hence we took up the cause of blood donation, which is the core responsibility of every citizen barring caste and creed.
"Here are we who pro-actively judge, discard and ignore the existence of transgenders for many reasons but many of us cannot simply donate blood. We wanted to raise awareness about the need of Blood Donation and urge each one of us to become a donor sooner. #Whydontyou is simple a step towards the same. It’s a message to donate blood from those who are not allowed to those who don’t.”
