Lions Club Inaugurates World's First Club For Transgenders

The first Lions Club for transgender was inaugurated by VP Nandakumar, MD & CEO of Manappuram Finance and an International Director of Lions Clubs International. “Lions Club of Patna Dostana” has 20 members and was formed as a speciality club with Lion Reshma Prasad as its Charter President.  

Lions Clubs International is spread in over 200 countries of the world.  The first Lions Club was founded by Lion Melvin Jones in the year 1917 at Chicago. It became International in the year 1920 when a club was opened in Canada. In 1957, young children were invited to become Leos.  In the year 1957, to support community projects and service activities Lions Clubs International Foundation was started. In the year 1987, after 70 years of its existence, women were invited to become Lions.  World's first Couple Club Lions Club of Patna Couples and also Eastern India's first All Women Lions Club of Patna Femina were inaugurated in Patna in the year 1994.  

Now in the year 2019 on September 21, world’s first Transgender Club was inaugurated by VP Nandakumar, MD & CEO of Manappuram Finance and an International Director of Lions Clubs International. 

Speaking at the inaugural function, Nandakumar congratulated the charter members of the club and thanked the members of Lions Club of Patna Vishal for sponsoring this unique Club. He appreciated the role of Past International Director V K Luthra and Past District Governor Dr T R Gandhi in motivating the transgender community to come together for this purpose. He announced that the Manappuram Foundation would assist the newly formed club with grants for implementing its social service projects, particularly for the education of poor children.  

Lion Reshma Prasad, Charter President of the Club, said that by recognizing third gender Lions Clubs International Lions have conveyed a strong message to all people that transgender is a respectable part of the community which has created confidence amongst them. The function was also attended by Lions District Governor Dr Amitab Chowhary and past District Governor Prasoon Jaiswal.