Transgender nurse fears she may have to tell a lie to practise in Tamil Nadu
TNN | Jun 29, 2019, 08.30 PM IST
CHENNAI: In 2014, Rakshika Raj joined the nursing course as a male because the state medical university did not have provision for admitting a transgender. In the next three years, Rakshika changed the gender in all her documents, including her Class X and Class XII certificates, to ‘T’.
On Saturday, Rakshika walked on to the dais to receive her graduation dressed in a sari, but as a transgender, amidst thundering applause.
“It was a proud moment for me. Not just because I graduated as a nurse but also because I was recognised as a transgender,” Rakshika said.
But the new graduate says her happiness was only momentary. The degree she received was for a he/she and not T. If Rakshika wants to practise nursing, she has to register herself with the Tamil Nadu Nurses and Midwives Council. “The council has asked me to register as a ‘female’ because it doesn’t have provisions for transgender people,” Rakshika said.
Rakshika fears she may not be able to make nursing her profession. “I am a neither a man nor a woman. I am a transgender and all my documents show that. I want to be registered as one. If I register my gender as a woman, I will be telling a lie and that is illegal too,” Rakshika said.
The transgender says she has fought many battles with her family and friends to live like a transgender. “I got support from college and a few friends. I appeal to the state health department to bring in legislation for accommodating transgender people,” Rakshika said.
TNN | Jun 29, 2019, 08.30 PM IST
CHENNAI: In 2014, Rakshika Raj joined the nursing course as a male because the state medical university did not have provision for admitting a transgender. In the next three years, Rakshika changed the gender in all her documents, including her Class X and Class XII certificates, to ‘T’.
On Saturday, Rakshika walked on to the dais to receive her graduation dressed in a sari, but as a transgender, amidst thundering applause.
“It was a proud moment for me. Not just because I graduated as a nurse but also because I was recognised as a transgender,” Rakshika said.
But the new graduate says her happiness was only momentary. The degree she received was for a he/she and not T. If Rakshika wants to practise nursing, she has to register herself with the Tamil Nadu Nurses and Midwives Council. “The council has asked me to register as a ‘female’ because it doesn’t have provisions for transgender people,” Rakshika said.
Rakshika fears she may not be able to make nursing her profession. “I am a neither a man nor a woman. I am a transgender and all my documents show that. I want to be registered as one. If I register my gender as a woman, I will be telling a lie and that is illegal too,” Rakshika said.
The transgender says she has fought many battles with her family and friends to live like a transgender. “I got support from college and a few friends. I appeal to the state health department to bring in legislation for accommodating transgender people,” Rakshika said.
No comments:
Post a Comment