Tamil Nadu - Salem   

‘Allow us to live with dignity’

Photo: E. Lakshmi Narayanan

Passionate call: A transgender performing at the ‘Tirunangaigal’ festival in Salem on Sunday. —

SALEM: The trauma of being a transgender and getting discriminated against in society has formed the fulcrum of their performances, which were staged at the ‘Tirunangaigal (Transgender) Festival’ here on Sunday.

A joint initiative of the Tamil Nadu AIDS Initiative (TAI) and Tamil Nadu Aravanigal and Nalinda Pengal Kootamaippu (Federation of Transgender and Neglected Women of Tamil Nadu), the festival showcased the sufferings of a transgender in society. “We insist on a dignified life and you please understand us,” was the passionate call of all those who participated in the festival which was held for more than three hours before a huge audience at the Moovender Arangam and well supported by the Catholic Youths of the diocese.

One act plays, skids, dances and even mono acts carried the same message repeatedly – “Leave us alone to live with dignity”. The worst suffering was the discrimination a transgender is facing from the family to which he belonged to. A group of men and transgenders gyrated with aplomb with ‘parais’ in their hands. A couple even staged Bharatham. They sang the stories of their sufferings, which moved the audience.

Many demanded voter’s identity, family cards and other benefits which a man or woman in society enjoy. A dash of gloss also was added to the festivity when a few catwalked on the stage for a `Miss Salem’ title. Cash awards were given to the first three performers.

The federation, according to the organisers, had undertaken the ambitious objective of empowering the transgender in society. “We should not be looked upon by society and leered at. We are human beings with the feelings of you and others. Treat us equally, understand us deeply and allow us to live with dignity,” said a transgender.

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