Transvestites want the EC to recognise their community as a "third sex" and mention it clearly on the Election Photo Identity Cards.
They do not form a votebank for any political outfit and thus find nothing for them in the election manifestoes of any party. Transgenders, homosexuals and gay rights activists from across the country have asked political parties to include issues related to them in the electoral agenda and make their stand clear on issues like decriminalisation of homosexuality.
At a People's Panchayat, the last in a series that spread across various cities including Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune, a large number of activists from the gay community and HIV positive network and representatives of 'sexual minorities' gathered in Delhi to "strike a bargain with political parties for redressal of there many grievances."
"Our political parties have an archaic mindset, They need to wake up to the existence of sexual minorities or face electoral boycott from the estimated four crore population. All political outfits need to understand that sexual minorities are as much a part of the society as anyone else and they too need to be cared for," said Mumbai-based gay rights activist Ashok Rao Kavi who with other members of his NGO- Hamsafar- is planning to meet representatives of political parties with demands.
Transgenders or "kinnars" have also joined this movement of sexual minorities and demand their legal recognition. Transgenders want to be called neither men nor women but members of the "third sex."
With the elections in progress, 'sexual minorities' have made their agenda clear and are getting support from various sections, including people from the bureaucracy.
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