'LDF govt taking steps to ensure justice to transgenders'

Kochi, July 5: The LDF government in Kerala is considering making sex reassignment surgery less expensive to help transgenders who cannot afford it and taking steps to ensure justice to them.

Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja Teacher today said a series of measures, including building of transgender-friendly toilets, is necessary to ensure social justice for the people whose gender identity differs from the sex the doctor marked on their birth certificate in the state.

The minister said it is sad if poor trangenders are forced to opt for "prostitution to earn money for undergoing sex reassignment surgery". "Prostitution will not be allowed. We should think about making sex reassignment surgery less expensive," she said.

Noting that transgenders are facing a lot of problems in Kerala, the minister said members of the community feel harassed even in places like hospitals when doctors insist that they want to check whether they are male or female.

"We will take measures to end such discrimination against them," she said. The minister was responding to questions regarding alleged police brutality against transsexuals in Kochi while they were standing at a bus shelter in the city two days ago.

PTI