Transgender, gay rights activists demand welfare board

SURAT: Transgender rights activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi and gay rights activist Manvendra Singh Gohil have joined hands to press the state government to follow the Supreme Court order of last year and form a transgender welfare board for the upliftment of the hijra community in the state.
The two were in the Diamond City to launch 'Hun Hijro, Hun Laxmi', the Gujarati translation of Tripathi's autobiography.Tripathi said that she is proud of her sexuality and claims to be a 'woman who can put all other women to shame'.
The book launch witnessed a large presence of eunuchs from across the city, mainly from Nanpura Hijhrawad, who appreciated the efforts of Tripathi for writing the autobiography and bringing the truth about transgender community.
Gohil's Lakshya Trust and Tripathi's Astitva Trust have joined hands to crusade for the cause of forming the welfare board for transgender community.
Gohil shared his positive thoughts on the transgender family and their importance. He said, "Much before the Supreme Court judgment, Tamil Nadu was the first state to form a transgender welfare board four years ago. After the judgment, states like Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, etc, have formed the boards. Gujarat has high presence of Hijra community but the government is yet to follow the apex court's order."
He further said, "Gujarat is the only state where the transgender have their temple at Bahucharaji where Hijras from across the country pay their visit."
Tripathi, a contestant in reality show Big Boss, is the first transgender to represent Asia Pacific at the United Nations and has represented her community and India on several international platforms, including World AIDS conference in Toronto.
The autobiography is a narrative of her ordeal of becoming a Hijra by choice and her subsequent journey of fighting against odds for the recognition of her community.
"Our deity is in Gujarat and the government here needs to first follow the Supreme Court order. I will keep coming to Gujarat for restoring the rights of the transgender community," said Tripathi.