Activists, party hail SC verdict, say transgenders also citizens - Times of India

Margao/PANAJI: The decision of the Supreme Court to recognize and accord the third gender status to eunuchs or transgenders in the country has been welcomed across the board in Goa.

"The human rights of transgenders have been recognized. This is important because they have been victimized in the past," said Sabina Martins of Bailancho Saad, a women's collective. The SC recognition accords them an identity as a third gender, she stressed.

Transgenders have had to suffer humiliation and were even questioned after they achieved successes, especially in sports, pointed out Martins, adding, "This was because they did not fall under any of the two gender categories."

Cyril Fernandes, a human rights activist, said it was high time a decision like this was taken as society has neglected transgenders. "They are marginalized and have been existing on the fringes of Indian society," he said.

Goa Su-Raj Party (GSRP) while welcoming the decision, has urged the government to provide transgenders with reservations in jobs and education. The SC has ruled that third gender people will be considered as OBCs.

GSRP pointed out that it had raised the issue of providing transgenders with reservations and welfare schemes in its Lok Sabha 2014 manifesto, "the only party in India to do so".

Savio Rodrigues, GSRP secretary and president (youth affairs), had contested the recent LS elections from South Goa.

In a press note, he stated, "It is heartening to note that even the SC agrees with our stand and has passed an order in favour of protecting the rights of the third gender to enable them to earn a living and educate themselves just like any citizen in the country."

He further pointed out that the Election Commission of India in the ongoing LS polls had included 'others' (referring to the third gender) while categorizing the gender of voters.

"The SC decision will assist organizations such as GSRP which believe that every citizen of this country has a legitimate right to be treated as a citizen and must not be discriminated against on the basis of their sexuality or sexual preference. We will put a requisition to the Goa government to create reservations in jobs and education for the third gender in Goa," said Rodrigues.