CHENNAI: Six members of the transgendered (known in Tamil as aravanis) community received their diplomas in cosmetology at an event that included theatre, film, conversation and oratory at the Alliance Française on Wednesday evening.

Chairperson of the Social Welfare Board, C.R. Saraswati, promised representatives of the community that their requests for recognition of the third gender as a legal category for ration cards, voter identity cards and property rights, reservations for employment and legalising of sex reassignment surgery would be placed before the Chief Minister.

Meeting to be convened

She said a meeting would soon be convened with the transgendered, non-Governmental organisations and academia to arrive at suitable measures for the empowerment of this oppressed community.

The Sudar Foundation, run by and for the transgendered, collaborated with the Global Life Organisation for Women (GLOW) and the National Institute for Holistic Therapy, both headed by cosmetologist Nikhila, to provide Jamuna, Malathi, Selvam, Kavitha, Devi and Easwari with training in beauty therapy, which included aromatherapy, reiki and beauty treatment.

Kalai Rani, film and theatre actor associated with Koothu-p-pattarai, presented her solo production Varugalamo at the event, that presented the agony of a Dalit devotee asking to see the image of the deity. "Amidst concerns that Tamil culture is being destroyed, Koothu-p-pattarai is keeping culture vibrantly alive," said Ms. Saraswati.

Pralayan, founder of the pattarai, pointed out that gender was not formed before birth but by upbringing and a differentiated education. Mangai, professor of English, Stella Maris College, said that transgendered persons were walking questions about gender, desire and sexuality. She condemned the homophobia in Tamil cinema, quoting Balu Mahendra's latest film that initially allows the hero access to the heroine's body, though he later kills another young man who touches him.

V.K.T. Balan of Madura Travels and Jayalakshmi, secretary of GLOW, were the other guests of honour.

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