On Monday, Oct. 20, in addition to celebrating Diwali, Anjali Rimi held the grand opening of the in-person location for her program, Parivar Bay Area. Parivar Bay Area is the first-ever transgender-led organization centered around South Asian immigrants in America. Rimi plans to use this new space to serve as a community center to support and protect the minority of transgender immigrants from South Asia.
“Now, we are going to have ourselves be in this space where we will bring community together,” Rimi said.
The creation of this safe and supportive space for Rimi’s targeted minority is important, as these groups of immigrants and transgender people are mistreated and overlooked around the world, even locally in the Bay Area.
“Being transgender and an immigrant means constantly fighting to be seen, to be safe, and to simply belong,” Rimi said
Rimi envisions that Parivar Bay Area’s office will be used as a safe space and affirming center for the transgender and immigrant communities of San Francisco. Within the building, social gatherings, cultural events, and community programs will be held to foster a sense of connection and belonging among members.
“Our communities are pretty hidden because of various aspects of discrimination, but there was unity here tonight,” Rimi said.
More importantly, this location will also be used to support legal and immigration services through Parivar Bay Area. The program will be able to provide accessible, low-cost, and affirming legal help for the community of transgender immigrants.
“What excites me most about the future of Parivar Bay Area is its potential for growth and the ever-increasing impact we can have. I look forward to developing new programs and strengthening our community ties, ultimately creating a more supportive and inclusive environment for everyone,” said Victoria Castro, a member of the Parivar Bay Area team.
To make the grand opening of Parivar Bay Area special, Rimi hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a performance by a transgender immigrant artist, and a full buffet. This performance was meant to capture the joy of the night and holiday as well as pride in identity.
“We had a cultural performance by a Kinner, a transgender immigrant, showcasing her trans joy and her artistry,” Rimi said.
This celebration also highlighted the holiday of Diwali. Diwali is a festival of lights, celebrating the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. It is the marking of the Hindu New Year and is a time for family, food, and togetherness.
“My favorite memory is lighting the firecrackers with my friend. When I was a little kid, every year, we would light firecrackers together. And then, even after he moved away, I would still light them every year as a tradition. So that’s why I really hold this holiday near and dear to my heart,” said Veer Bahl, a sophomore at Carlmont High School.
One reason Rimi is so passionate about her profession is due to her past. Rimi was born in India but was forced to move to America to seek safety due to the gender violence present in the area where she was born. Once she arrived in America, she faced more problems, such as homelessness, statelessness, and limited access to healthcare and resources. These hurdles caused her to live in several different places during this time, including Canada, Trinidad, and multiple states in the U.S.
“Parivar means family, and I’ve always yearned for one, and I want to make sure no one else has to struggle to find one,” Rimi said.
After this journey, Rimi finally arrived in San Francisco, where she decided to dedicate her life to helping others so they wouldn’t have to face what she had gone through.
“It’s my journey to be able to make it better for somebody else, as someone who came to the U.S. out of the fear of losing my life to gender violence,” Rimi said.
