Former Supreme Court judge Kurian Joseph on Sunday said that the transgender community should be classified as a minority community and provided all benefits that go with it.
He was speaking at a function to launch Transcender , a documentary on India’s first transgender police officer Prithika Yashini at an event organised by the Don Bosco Institute of Communication Arts (DBICA) here.
He said it would be wrong to classify them as a backward community (BC) that is based on caste and community.
Role of media
N. Ram, Chairman, The Hindu Group of Publications, expressed concern over certain provisions in the new Bill for transgender persons. Mr. Ram said the requirement for a medical certification after sex reassignment surgery went against the right of self-identification.
He said the Bill did not address issues of the community relating to employment. He underlined the role of the media in making a difference to the lives of the transgender community.
Ms. Prithika Yashini said that the 30-minute-long film, directed by Fr. Ernest Pathi, made her understand the difficulties faced by actors.
She said she properly utilised the opportunity she received and became a police officer.
Scholarships were presented to transgender persons pursuing higher education.
