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Kerala’s maiden trans-sexual wedding aims to show the path ahead
Amid mellifluous music and dance at a private club in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, Ishan and Surya became the first trans-sexuals in Kerala to tie the knot under the Special Marriages Act.
The bride in red silk sari and the groom in traditional brown suit took the centre stage as VIPs and others vied for a picture with the couple.
Amid mellifluous music and dance at a private club in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, Ishan and Surya became the first trans-sexuals in Kerala to tie the knot under the Special Marriages Act.
City mayor VP Prashanth, former MP TN Seema, actor Bhagyalakshmi, writer J Devika and others were among those who attended the ceremony and blessed the newly-weds.
“Some years ago, we couldn’t have imagined such a function in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram,” observed P Rani, a transgender activist hailing from north Kerala’s Kozhikode.
“Things are slowly changing and we have started getting some acceptance in the society. We hope this marriage will set the ball rolling,” Rani said.
Ishan is a small-time businessperson and Surya, an activist and TV anchor. Both are graduates and members of the government-appointed transgender justice board. The couple had announced their plans to tie the knot two months ago.
“It is just the beginning. We will be a role model for others. We will show the world trans-sexual people can also lead a decent life like others. Society’s attitude is slowly changing,” said the bride Surya after the wedding.
Hailing from a middle class family, she (31) underwent sex change surgery in 2014 and became a woman. But most her relatives could not accept the fact and she was forced to leave her house.
Hailing from an orthodox Muslim family, Ishan’s (34) case drew more disapproval as he was a woman before he underwent sex change surgery in 2015 and became a man.
They met each other during their association with an NGO which worked for the welfare of the third sex and trans-sexuals.
Later, both their families came around and accepted their decisions. They were a prominent part of the gala wedding which was held in a traditional Hindu way attended by more than 1,000 guests.
Kerala is the first state to formulate a transgender policy aimed at ending discrimination and bring them to mainstream.
Two years ago, the state set up a transgender justice board to deal with their complaints and a separate column called “intersex” was introduced in the birth and death registration forms.
It was also made mandatory for all government buildings to have separate washrooms for the third sex.
According to transgender board, there are at least 35,000 third sex and trans-sexual persons in the state. Despite the best foot forward, activists say more is required to bring them into the mainstream.
