India Asks Voters: Male, Female, or Transgender?

Imagine, for a moment, if the United States of a America’s government offered not two, but three checkboxes to select from on official forms. Male, female, and transgender. ‘Cause it’s a reality in India.

The world’s largest democracy is beating the world’s super power in recognizing gender isn’t so black and white.

Indian election authorities Thursday granted what they called an independent identity to intersex and transsexuals in the country’s voter lists.

Before, members of these groups — loosely called eunuchs in Indian English — were referred to as male or female in the voter rolls.

But now, they will have the choice to tick “O” — for others — when indicating their gender in voter forms, the Indian election commission said in a statement.