In a first, four DYFI transgender representatives to be part of its state conference

In a move to make public space more accessible to Kerala's transgender community, four trans persons have been chosen as the representatives for DYFI's 14th State Conference which is being held in Kozhikode. The members who hail from Trivandrum, Kochi and Thrissur will be speaking about issues that the community faces in the state, and use it as a platform to raise their concerns.

Speaking to Edex from the venue, Syama S Prabha, one of the transgender representative says that she is happy to have received an opportunity like this. "We are extremely happy about getting this opportunity. A lot of people are coming to us and enquiring about our well-being. They don't consider us to be any different from them, it feels great to be here," she said, unable to contain her excitement. In October 2017, DYFI created history by becoming the first ever party to extend their membership to the transgender community in Kerala. 

Syama, who has been a party member ever since, believes that the government has done incredible work to make the transgender community more visible in the state, "Ever since the ruling left government has come to power, transgenders have been able to come forward in many ways. Being party members, we ourselves have numerous avenues to spread awareness about transgender rights. Earlier, there was a certain reluctance among the general public to accept it, but the situation is slowly changing," she added.

When asked about one change that she would like to bring, given an opportunity to formulate a policy, she says, " Most of the transgenders have run away from their homes or abandoned by their family. What they need immediately is a safe place to stay. If you ask about one change that I would like to bring, it is this — a safe government home for transgenders. This will fulfill our primary need," she says.