The situation for India’s transgender community is dire, but news that the nation will now officially recognize them as a third sex comes as a largely positive step on an ever-rocky journey.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is far more than a mere symbolic gesture — it dictates that transgender people are eligible to receive quotas in areas like jobs and education, on par with other minorities.
And with an estimated population of two million transgender people living in the country, it’s a major move away from the fringes of society and towards larger acceptance.
Discrimination and harassment runs rampant, with many fearing basic necessities like seeking public medical support.
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India joins other nations like Nepal and Bangladesh in recognizing a third gender.
“Today, for the first time I feel very proud to be an Indian,” said prominent transgender activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi.
Unfortunately, this comes on the heels of the Supreme Court’s December ruling which criminalized gay sex, leaving a strangely unnerving reality that two people classified as transgender would now be breaking the law by having consensual sex.
sejjo
Well, I suppose this is something. More rights please!
MikeSmith
The “T” gender? Male, female and t. Or temale? Now that’s not bad. Hi! I’m a temale.
Mezaien
Love Love and more Love. To you all in one of the most intolerant country in the world; You can do it just don`t give up. We the HOMOS of the world support you.
Faggot
It’s not a 3rd gender, but another gender. There are endless possibilities of gender, not just M, F, and MTF.
Why would India’s law about gay sex have anything to do with this? Who says that transgender people are gay?
inbama
Nothing new about this at all.
The gay rights movement was born in 1862 with Germany Karl Ulrichs claiming gays were a “third sex” with female sex desires “in the wrong body.”
The more things change…
Ironic that Germany passed Third Sex legislation last year – but for the Intersexed.
Saralikesyarr
Woot! Good for them!