Third gender, the new identity of politics

Amarjot Kaur

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 19

Transgender rights activist and the first transgender student of Panjab University, Dhananjay Chauhan, 48, who is also the general secretary of Mangalmukhi Transgender Welfare Society, casted her vote for the first time under the 'third gender' category.

In Khuda Lahora, on Sunday, she stood out from the rest and was accompanied by her dera members, coaxing the officers on duty to allow a separate line for her and the members of her community. "This is the politics of identity," she said.

Having voted for the first time in the year 1989, Dhananjay has given many polls miss. “As far as I remember, I have voted twice before these elections. Earlier, they would bracket us in male/female category and I didn't fit in that bracket. Now, we finally have a voice,” she said.

Looking back, she talks of the changes in the last five years. “The community has come forward to talk about their rights and gender identity. The internet and social media has played a catalyst. Not only do we now have a representation in the education space, we’re accepted as part of society also. Panjab University has exempted our fee, made separate toilets, and the city now has a Transgender Welfare Board too. This is a big change on a local level. Of course, decriminalisation of homosexuality is a big, beautiful feather in our country's hat," she opines.

This campaigning season during the Lok Sabha polls, Dhananjay says, several political parties frequented the deras. “All parties, including BJP, Congress, and Bhartiya Jan Samman Party came and asked us to vote. AAP candidate's son also came to meet me in the university,” she shared. However, at the polling booth, Dhananjay's queer style invited several judgements. Her voter card reads 'third gender' in Hindi and hasn't been translated in English. 

“People thought of me as an exaggerated dramatic, probably and the demand for the third line didn't sit well with them either, but we want equity, not just equality. I am just that I voted as per my identity. Now, congress has equal rights for LGBTQ and anti-discrimination bill for transgender, on its manifesto. BJP has Transgender Protection Bill. What we want is the bill to be made as per NALSA Judgement with rights to marry, adopt and divorce,” she added.