MUMBAI: When Satyashree Sharmila decided to apply for a passport online last October, the form asked her to fill up the sex column as 'Male' or 'Female'. The 33-year-old, who had given up the gender she was born into over a decade ago and now identifies as a transgender, approached the passport authorities with her problem. They asked her to tick any of the boxes in the online form and promised to change it later. But Satyashree was not having any of it.
A few months ago, in April 2014, the Supreme Court had sanctified the third gender by asking the government to make sure transgenders get job quotas and facilities including voter card, passport and driving licence.
A few days after meeting the passport authorities, she found the online application form had a third option in the column for sex: 'Transgender'. On February 15, 2015, Satyashree received her passport — the first person in Maharashtra, and perhaps India, to be issued the document with her gender listed as 'Transgender'.
"It was one of the happiest moments of my life," Satyashree, a law graduate, told TOI. Satyashree, who stays in Vikhroli, is a board member and program manager under Project Pehchan of Darpan Foundation which works for transgender and hijra community rights in Mumbai.
Satyashree's passport adds to the growing recognition the third gender is being accorded in India.
In 2013, the Election Commission had issued voter cards to transgenders for the first time.
Activists said usually transgender persons get passports that identify them as a 'Female'. This is not an identity that most transgender persons are comfortable with.
Satyashree is one.
A few months ago, in April 2014, the Supreme Court had sanctified the third gender by asking the government to make sure transgenders get job quotas and facilities including voter card, passport and driving licence.
A few days after meeting the passport authorities, she found the online application form had a third option in the column for sex: 'Transgender'. On February 15, 2015, Satyashree received her passport — the first person in Maharashtra, and perhaps India, to be issued the document with her gender listed as 'Transgender'.
"It was one of the happiest moments of my life," Satyashree, a law graduate, told TOI. Satyashree, who stays in Vikhroli, is a board member and program manager under Project Pehchan of Darpan Foundation which works for transgender and hijra community rights in Mumbai.
Satyashree's passport adds to the growing recognition the third gender is being accorded in India.
In 2013, the Election Commission had issued voter cards to transgenders for the first time.
Activists said usually transgender persons get passports that identify them as a 'Female'. This is not an identity that most transgender persons are comfortable with.
Satyashree is one.
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