Election authorities in India have arranged a third category for gender on voting forms, for those who do not fit in the 'male' or 'female' categories. Voters will have the choice to tick 'O' for 'Other' gender, says the Election Commission of India. Often called in Indian English 'Eunuchs', transgender people in India are seen as marginalised. Some become prostitutes or beg on the streets, others make some money dancing at celebrations, reports CNN. The Times of India recently reported that India's first-ever Queer Beauty Parlour in Delhi is proving a runaway success with Delhi's transgender citizens - as a place where they can get their beauty treatments done and simply be themselves in comfort. Back in July, the Delhi High Court ruled that Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code can no longer be used to treat consensual homosexual conduct between adults as a criminal offence - so effectively gay sex is now decriminalised across India.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Friday, 13th November 2009 - 3:39pm