On March 30, joy knew no bounds when fifteen transgender couples tied the knot at a mass wedding function in Chhattisgarh. Conceived by Raipur-based transgender and social activist Vidya Rajput and her team, this was the first such event for the community in the country.
One such couple, Saloni and Gulam Nabi Ansari, fell in love eight years ago but faced opposition from their family and the society. They got married on Saturday.
"Initially, we decided to keep our relationship a secret. When we told about it to our families, they did not accept it, which is a common problem for transgenders," the couple told PTI.
The Supreme Court of India recognised transgenders as a "third gender" in 2014 and ensured they enjoy constitutional rights and freedom, following which the couple decided to live together openly.
ANI
"We kept visiting our families during festivals and other occasions and eventually persuaded them to accept our relationship. It was very difficult to make them understand our relationship," said Saloni.
"Like others, a transgender also wants love and support and has the right to live a married life. We tried to get married earlier, but could not. When we heard about this event, we immediately contacted the organisers," she said.
The weddings took place per the Hindu tradition.?
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Of the 15 couples who tied the knot at the function here, seven were from Chhattisgarh, two each from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, and one each from Maharashtra and West Bengal.
So far, the only social acceptance for transgender people is sexual. But the society needs to go beyond that and look at ways to make it happen.