INDIA – A transgender woman has filed an application to contest the upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu, the 11th largest state in India by area (about the size of Greece) and the 7th most populous state.
Representing the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) party, Rose Venkatesan said, “Tamil Nadu is one of the foremost states in this country where transgender people are given recognition.”
Venkatesan is India’s first transgender person to host their own talk show on TV, a current affairs show under the name of Ippadikku Rose.
Venkatesan added, “I think now is the correct time for me to enter politics. I can voice my community’s rights. I think political representation from a minority community brings about change in that community.”
Transgender rights activist, Kalki Subramaniam, has also applied for a ticket with DMDK. Both feel that transgenders need political representation in order to get more benefits for their community in terms of employment and education, and to prevent their stigmatization.
According to census reports, there are 30,000 transgenders in Tamil Nadu, although this is a conservative figure as many are scared to reveal themselves.
