Good news for transgenders as voices
from the ‘margins’ reach corridors of
power
In a
recent progressive step, the Tamil Nadu
government is set to become a model for
protecting rights of sexual minorities.
And has given succor to people on the
margins of society that their voices can
be heard in the corridors of power.
Following a public hearing highlighting
daily injustice and poverty faced by the
transgender community in Tamil Nadu, the
state governor announced, on January 23
2008, the establishment of a Welfare
Board for Transgenders – a world first.
The
hearing organised by the Tamil Nadu AIDS
Solidarity Action group (TASA), Tamil
Nadu State Commission for Women and
ActionAid brought together over 300
transgender people from across the
state. A citizen’s jury, including the
former director general of police,
retired judge and university vice
chancellor, heard the concerns of those
living a ‘blurred identity’.
“Parents disown us,
schools don’t take us, and doctors deny
us treatment. We are treated as outlaws
in this free land where we cannot enjoy
even the basic rights of identity. And
this is a traumatic emotional issue for
us,”
said K Madhumathi, a transgender and
social worker, one of the 20 who
presented their case at the public
hearing.
“In the absence of job
opportunities I became a sex worker and
got infected with HIV. I had to struggle
hard before I finally saw a doctor. As a
transgender I grew up with stigma and
insult but it has only made me stronger
as a person. I will continue to fight
for my right to live with dignity,”
shared Noorie a well know transgender
activist from Chennai.
Noorie’s story was earlier shared as a
video message during a World AIDS Day
event organized by ActionAid in Rome
winning support from Vladimir Luxuria
from Italy, the only transgender
parliamentarian in the world who agreed
to back ActionAid’s campaign for
universal access to treatment and care
for people living with HIV/AIDS.
“In most cases, because
of desertion by family and society
transgenders leave home and resort to
begging, dancing or sex work for a
living which makes them more prone to
HIV infection,”
said Esther Mariaselvam of ActionAid
The
citizen’s jury made key recommendations
to the Government of Tamil Nadu for
favourable policies so that they can
live a life with dignity. These included
issuing of Public Distribution System (PDS)
cards for subsidized food and fuel,
other social security schemes and repeal
of Indian Penal Code 377 which
criminalises sexual expression by
homosexuals, bisexuals and transsexuals.
The
Minister of Food and Civil Supplies was
the first to come forward to issue the
PDS cards to transgenders.
The
Chief Election Commissioner has
promised to issue voter Identity cards.
The
announcement of the Welfare Board
prompted activists to organize a
thanksgiving for the Ho’nable Chief
Minister Dr. Kalaingar Karunanidhi.
Expressing gratitude A J Hariharan,
Chairperson of TASA said:
“It is a tremendous leap to have a
separate board set up for transgenders,
first of its kind. Tamil Nadu should be
a model not only for the rest of India
but for the entire world.”
