Transgenders plead for mercy killing upset over their plight

Chennai, Sep 6: Citing "lack" of government assistance to help their community members lead a dignified life, a group of four educated transgenders has petitioned the Tamil Nadu government with an extreme plea seeking mercy killing.

Banu, Livingsmile Vidya and Angel Glady, in a petition submitted at the District Collectorate here on Friday, said they wanted to die with dignity rather than being subjected to discrimination and other problems because of their gender.

The group said they have been trying in vain to avail government assistance, including reservation in education and jobs, long to lead a dignified life.

"We want to live a dignified life and therefore have been demanding reservation in education and jobs but neither the central nor state governments have heeded our demand," Banu told PTI.

Vidya said they had staged various forms of protests, including begging to suggest that the members were pushed to seeking alms for a living, but insisted that they wanted to live a dignified life, and rightfully so.

"We have been staging so many protests, including begging for dignity, but we are pushed towards begging for living. If that be the case, we don't want to live that kind of a life, but rather die with dignity and therefore made the application for mercy killing," Vidya, a post-graduate from Thanjavur Tamil University, said. H

owever, officials at the Collectorate had assured help, Vidya added. Banu, studying engineering at a nearby college, said transgenders have been facing discrimination at many places and stressed that only reservation in jobs would enable them lead a dignified life.

The plea for mercy killing had been made since their gender identity had affected their dignity, they said adding they did not want to take up begging or indulge in commercial sex, generally associated with transgenders.

PTI