CHENNAI: It was history in the making. For the first time, members of the transgender community voted with due recognition of their third gender status in the poll on Wednesday.
Many, however, felt that their classification in the voter ID card as ‘male/female’ was discriminatory.
Recognising transgenders as a separate sex, the Election Commission had created a separate ‘transgender’ column on electoral rolls and in booth slips. The recognition, no doubt, cheered the mariginalised sex and brought them in hordes to polling stations.
Transgender rights activist Kalki Subramaniam (27) said she was excited to vote after the EC duly honoured the sex status of transgenders.
“I think this will be a stepping stone for the State and Central governments to formulate new plans for the development of our community.”
Soundharya Gopi, a young transgender, said the recognition was a harbinger of more approvals and honour from the government and the people. “The word Thirunangai as the sex category in booth slip no doubt thrilled me.”
Voice of dissent
However, Jeeva, a member of the Transgenders’ Welfare Board, who had cast vote at Egmore constituency, expressed reservations over the ‘male/female’ reference in voter ID cards.
“Why can’t they state it as transgender, as is being done in other countries, instead of complicating it by calling male/female?” Jeeva questioned.
“We want a separate column for the transgenders as TG instead of counting us as male/female.”