Challenges of third gender in spotlight

Members of Sahodharan, a non-governmental organisation working with Transgenders, celebrated the Transgenders Day at the Gandhi Thidal on Beach Road here on Sunday. Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy inaugurated the celebrations organised by the Department of Social Welfare in association with Sahodharan.

Mr. Kandasamy also released a book on the occasion.

Cultural programmes

K. Sheetal, president, Sahodharan, spoke on the transgenders’ challenges and the progress towards inclusion into society. The function was held for the first time in the city with the aim of establishing an identity for the community and bringing them into the mainstream. Transgenders also staged cultural programmes, including ‘karagattam’ and other traditional art forms. A large number of public also participated in the celebrations.

K. Lakshminarayanan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Chief Minister, S. Sundaravadivelu, Secretary to Social Welfare Department, and representatives from Sahodharan spoke.