Chennai to host India’s first transgender swayamvaram

[Shana A]

Chennai to host India's first transgender swayamvaram
Priya M Menon, TNN | Jul 29, 2012, 02.25AM IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Chennai-to-host-Indias-first-transgender-swayamvaram/articleshow/15244522.cms

CHENNAI: Many years ago, royal families held swayamvarams, where princesses could choose the man of their dreams from a group of eligible suitors. On September 28, the city will witness a swayamvaram of a different kind. Thirunangai swayamvaram is being organised by activist Kalki Subramaniam to help transgenders (TG) find their life partners.

"We will have TG women who are interested in getting married to men or other sexes up on stage. Those who are interested in marrying them will have an opportunity to interact with them," says Subramaniam, founder of Sahodari Foundation, which works with transgenders.

She came up with the idea of conducting a swayamvaram as many members of the community dream of leading a family life. "But TG women have been exploited as sex workers and beggars," says Subramaniam. "Society has labelled transgenders as people who won't fit into the family system but we are ordinary people with a need for love, family and relationships."

[Elsa]

many of these TG women are ones who are forced to run  away from their homes...

even now I am terrified that if my parents find out about me trying to transition on HRT I could be thrown out or asked to leave...

Although I am a bit sceptical of these shows since by their very definition they prevent these women from living normal lives by permanently marking them in public as TG...
but thats just my opinion - since I dont want anyone to know that I am a TG since its none of their business...

I do hope it works out for them since many of them have VERY difficult lives...