Tamil Nadu - Salem   

Trans-sexual's bid to gain recognition

Special correspondent

Radhika is contesting in civic polls

DOOR TO DOOR: Elizabeth D. Jeffords, a transsexual from U.S. seeking voter's support for Radhika (kneeling), for local body polls, in Salem on Monday. — Photo: P. Goutham

SALEM: Thirtyfour-year-old Radika claimed to be an orphan. Being a transexual, Radhika and the community were being ostracised not by society but by those attempting to exploit them.

To put an end to harassment and to seek respectability, the transsexuals decided to acquire political recognition. They approached the DMDK, which, they said, assured them of a representation in the Salem Corporation polls. The community members identified Radhika as their consensus candidate.

But the party claims it had not supported the candidature of a transsexual. Instead, it preferred to field its own official candidate. Rejected transsexuals sought the people's support. Their ward residents, they claimed, evinced keen interest in electing a transsexual. Radhika had filed papers as an independent for Ward 16 of the Salem Corporation. The candidate says, "My ward people have extended wholehearted support to me. Hence, here I am canvassing."

On Monday the residents of Ward 16 were in for another surprise.

A few people from United States came down from Bangalore and carried out a door-to-door canvassing for Radhika.

"We are here to seek the support of the people for Radhika, who has been fighting for respectability for long," said a 56-year-old transsexual Elizabeth D. Jeffords, a retired architect from Wyoming State in U.S. to The Hindu .

A charitable trust TG Voices-India is also being run by Elizabeth D. Jeffords in Kolkata.

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