SALEM: Transgenders across the State would back any political party that would give legal sanctity to their status by referring to them as the third gender in all government documents, said the president of Salem Transgenders Welfare Association, Pooja, here on Monday.
Addressing reporters, Pooja said, “Transgenders should be legally considered as the third gender, and this should be included in the gender column in all documents. Currently, transgenders are classified under the OBC at national-level and MBC at the State-level. This is a hurdle in our development. Hence, we need two per cent reservation and scholarships in education,” Pooja added.
Listing out the community’s demands, the association president said as there was a provision to nominate an MLA and an MP in the State Legislative Assemblies and the Parliament for Anglo-Indians, similar courtesy should be extended to the transgenders as well.
She also urged the politicians to include chapters about the community in school and college curricula. Listing out other demands, she said that the transgender community would back a political party that promised to fulfil their demands and included them in their election manifesto.