Transgenders want separate line at polling booths

Nagpur: Ridiculed for long and made the butt of many jokes, transgenders are hopeful that this elections they will be shown some respect. “With the recognition of our community as transgenders, we are hoping that all facilities that have been promised to us will now be given,” says Uttam Baba, a leader of sorts for the community. Baba has ensured that the 2,000 transgenders in the city have an identity with Adhar Card and voter ID cards. “Separate lines for us and toilets have been our demand, and we are hoping that the government will fulfil it soon,” Uttam Baba said.
Though most of the facilities that have to be extended to transgenders have been fulfilled by states like Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Tamil Nade, Maharashtra has not done much for them. “Here we have zero facilities and we face so much harassment over public toilets,” says Saloni Ansari. “So far there was no separate line for us at polling booths, and wherever we would stand people would move away from that place. I hope on polling day we will this time be made to stand in a separate line,” adds Ansari.

Deprived for long of any recognition, the transgenders now want their share of space. “Previously we were made to stand in the line of males and that would be very embarrassing for them, and us too. But hopefully there will be a separate line and I also want that we should be allowed to vote first,” says Vidya Kambare.

Pardi resident Maya Tate is hoping for a new era of respect and recognition. “Polling booth is one public place where we have to stand for long hours along with other men and women. Previously we would be jostled and pushed and people were rude to us. Now that there is a separate column for transgenders we are hoping that we will get our due,” she says.

However, for all the talk of hope and recognition, transgenders still have a lot of ground to cover, feels LGBT activist Anand Chandrani. “Though Supreme Court had given these directives four years back, but still no facilities have been provided by the government to improve their condition,” says Chandrani and adds, “They have got voter cards but are still not aware of the power of their vote and do not know about the NOTA option.”