Re: 'Transgenders to be separate category in Census'

[Guest guest]

Dear Ernest,

Re: /message/11885

Thanks for saying it is a " recommendation " , The recommendation has not yet been

converted into a rule because of the extreme fluidity of the definition

" transgender " . For example, again there is no place here for the more hidden and

stigmatised female-to-male transgender.

Also you know that hijras themselves reject plain kothis cross dressed as

" berupiyas " and " zenanis " . Those of us engaging the Planning Commission, the

Election Commission, the Census authorities and NACO and truying -- like you --

to connect with the concerned communities. Revatis book " The Truth About Me " is a

great documentation for this movement to be understood by the mainstream in

general and the State in particular.

Even in Madhya Pradesh, the High Court has over turned the election of the hijra

from Japabalpur as she was elected on a women's reserved seat because she was

" born male " " . Hence self-allocation of gender alone is not enough it looks like.

The success of the LGBT movement will be determined on how successful we are in

convincing the State on the legtimacy of the huge diversity in the queer

communities in India.

With that, i would say congrats to all in achiueveing this first step in getting

the message across to the Technical Advisory Board regarding the need for

seperate classification of transgender. Now comes the harder part in keepintg

the flock together and speaking with a clear and equivocal voice regarding the

very meaning of transgender.

Ashok Row Kavi

Technical Officer

Sexual Minorities

UNAIDS,Delhi

e-maio: <arowkavi@...>