Visakhapatnam: Transgenders cast their votes, hope for a better life

Visakhapatnam: Even as their access to education and employment is often restricted, transgenders, who have enrolled themselves in the voters' list, have come forward to cast their votes in municipal polls.

While a total of 18.05 lakh men and women have enrolled in the civic polls, close to 125 members were registered under 'others' category in Visakhapatnam.

However, the activists mention that there are close to 1,000 transgenders residing in the district. As many as 500 of them dwell in the city limits itself. But of the total strength, only 10 per cent of them have been enrolled in the voters' list. "This is probably because they keep migrating from one region to the other. Most of them do not have even a proper residential address and gaining access to one is an arduous task for them. This apart, depending on the festival season, they keep moving from one place to the other. A majority of them do not have voter ID cards," says Arun Narayana, an LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) activist and a consultant with YRG Care.

Notwithstanding the discrimination they continue to face in society, the third category asserts that there is no compromise as far as participating in the democratic exercise is concerned. "So what if society looks down upon us? Let us do our bit to uplift the community and exercising our franchise is a step towards this direction. Unless we cast our vote, we cannot expect wonders to happen to us," clarifies Karima Khan, a transgender who exercised her franchise at Pendurthi on Wednesday.

Agreeing that they don't enjoy their due space in the society, Suradi Yellaji, another transgender at Kobbari Thota, says, "Many of us do not have even Aadhaar cards. Despite making repeated visits to the Collector's office, our concerns remain unaddressed. Political leaders make tall promises before every election but once elected, they tend to forget our woes for reasons best known to them."

Transgenders who visited the polling booths to cast their votes say that they want to lead a dignified life. "Government should take steps to provide suitable skill training to us as most of us excel in tailoring and applying make-up. We do hope to lead a better life which is free of seeking alms," adds SK Silk, a transgender residing at Thatichetlapalem.

LGBTQ activists lay emphasis on creating awareness about participation in the democratic exercise among the community as it will aid in improving the enrolment in the voters' list.