Choice of identity is one of the biggest positives of the new transgender ID issued by the State government on Thursday.
After two earlier attempts to hand over the cards ran into opposition from the community itself, the latest ID card has assuaged the ruffled feathers and made the recipients happy.
“Instead of ‘Sex: Transgender’ category in the earlier card that drew a lot of flak, this one allows us to identify with any gender that we want – male, female, or transgender. Moreover, it mentions ‘Government of Kerala’ and comes with the Social Justice Department’s logo,” says Sreekutty Namitha, president of the Sexual and Gender Minorities Federation Kerala. This, she says, is especially helpful when transgenders travel to other States and the ID card identifies them as belonging to Kerala.
Niya Kukku is happy that the card comes with a hologram and has the department logo.
“It also mentions our other details such as Aadhaar, PAN card numbers, blood group, and so on.”
Sreelachu says the card is a recognition of their identity by the State government. Shyama S. Prabha, Project Officer, Transgender Cell, says a lot of thought has gone into its design. .
In the first phase, cards were given to 150 transgenders.
