India's top court recognizes third gender category

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

India's top court recognizes third gender category
| April 15, 2014 | Updated: April 15, 2014 3:02am

NEW DELHI (AP) — India's top court Tuesday issued a landmark verdict creating a third gender category, saying transgendered people can now identify themselves that way on official documents.

Activists say it will give relief to millions of people who face discrimination in India's deeply conservative society.

The Supreme Court directed the federal and state governments to include transgendered people in all welfare programs for the poor, including education, health care and jobs to help them overcome social and economic challenges.

Before Tuesday's judgment, transgendered Indians had to identify themselves as male or female in all official documents.

The court noted that it was the right of every human being to choose their gender while granting rights to those who identify themselves as neither male nor female.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/India-s-top-court-recognizes-third-gender-category-5402738.php

[riversedge]

1. Congrats to all the folks in India--BUT -

This the strangest--cruelest ruling I have ever seen.


""The Supreme Court specified its ruling would only apply to transgender people but not to gays, lesbians or bisexuals. India's LGBT communities have been protesting the court's recent decision to reinstate a colonial-era law banning gay sex, which they say will make them vulnerable to police harassment.

[cosmicone]

2. Give 5-10 more years and things will change in India

The US has been independent for about 240 years and LGBT rights are coming to pass just in the last decade.

India has been independent for only 67 years and has made rapid progress in many progressive causes. LGBT rights will come to pass in the next decade in India.