implemented four years ago i still remember nalina who took admission then in the bsc visual communication under the added gender category in the past too we have had transgender students studying in our college but the category in the forms was not added officially this academic year we got two transgender students m mirthulla in bmm animation multimedia and r diya in ba french literature dr ks antonysamy head department of english loyola collegefor 19yearold m mirthulla from vellore coming to chennai has been lifechanging all her life she says she has faced bullying and harassment for being open about her gender and sexual orientation after completing her plustwo from sri venkateswara higher secondary school vellore in 2017 she chose chennai as her home i took a years gap for sexreassignment surgery srs and this year i got admission in bmm multimedia and animation in loyola college i never let my determination die even after facing all sorts of bullying and harassment from boys in school i was always in search of an educational institute that doesnt discriminate students based on their gender and sexuality and i am glad colleges like loyola exist i aspire to become a model in the futuretwentyoneyearold diya aims to travel across the globe and earn a phd in french i was 15 when i decided to lead the rest of my life as a transwoman things werent easy in 2016 after getting srs done i decided to complete my education and thats why i took admission in ba french in loyola college it makes me so happy to see how were considered as normal as other people around us and i only hope things get betterlaw student andria b wants to become a successful lawyer to fight the issues that concern the lgbtqia community education is very important and colleges being inclusive is even more encouraging i was 17 when i came out and had to take care of myself all alone bullying is very common we have to be thickskinned to be able to lead a respectful life not everyone is as privileged as i am thats why i want to stand up for those voices and fight for them as a lawyer shares the 26 yearold student of dr ambedkar government law collegehow colleges have become a support systempost section 377 the changes have been gradual but easy to spot in various colleges thanks to the various support groups and clubs sprouting up across campuses ava gilder one of the founders of the lgbtqia support group queer qrew at symbiosis school of liberal arts pune says in october 2016 we formed a platform where likeminded people could discuss ideas and issues related to the community for iitbombay student avinash coming out as gay had a lot to do with the support he received on his campus id known i was gay since class 7 it was only when i came here and saw many like me i got inspired to