Victory For Indias Transsexuals
November 12th, 2009 by Babe
India’s eunuchs and transsexuals achieved a long awaited victory in their campaign to be listed as ‘others’, distinct from males and females, on electoral rolls and voter identity cards.
The formal recognition, confirmed by the Election Commission, answers a longstanding demand by the eunuch and transgender community, (known as hijiras), who are believed to number up to six million.
In the past, many eunuchs – the term used for cross-dressers, as well as pre-op and post-operative transsexuals – have abstained in elections because they have been unwilling to identify their gender on voter forms. They could write ‘E’ for eunuch on passports and on certain government forms, but had failed in their campaign for acceptance at the ballot box in culturally conservative India.
Technorati Tags: India, eunuchs, transsexuals, transgender, hijiras, cross-dressers
Posted in Making A Difference, T's Around The World