Chhattisgarh: Ravina Biraha fights for transgenders Raipur: Ravina Biraha is a transgender who refused to live on the fringes and is fighting for dignity for her community. The taunts, the jeers and the humiliation, Biraha has experienced it all. But she prefers to define herself as the third gender.

"People still believe that there are only two genders in the society. When they see somebody from the third gender, they starting behaving differently. And that affects us. My family started discriminating me when they learnt I was a transgender," said Biraha.

Biraha chose to fight back at an early age. She left her village and family in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund district, studied at a free boarding school and did her graduation. While working at a local newspaper office, she got in touch with others from her community and formed the Chhattisgarh Mitwa Sankalp Samity in 2010.

"We discovered our community has a lot of potential. We thought that needs to be developed and conserved. Mitwa aims to help in overall development of our community," Biraha said....more    
10:09 AM, Apr 30, 2013

Pink tourism: India now a hot spot for LGBT travellers
by IANS
Kolkata: Thanks to Indian gay-tour operators, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community across the world is vying for India as the ultimate 'pink' tourist destination. "LGBT tourists want the same things as any traveller: to feel safe and welcome. India is becoming more popular with gay travellers since the high court decriminalized homosexuality in 2009. Feeling welcome is not only a reference to local hospitality, but also to...  
12:08 PM, Nov 22, 2012

SC seeks state govts' stands on transgenders' rights New Delhi: The Supreme Court om Monday sought the stands of the Centre and various state governments on a plea for declaring transgenders as citizens with a third category of gender and demanding equal protection and rights for them. A bench of justices KS Radhakrishnan and Dipak Misra also issued notices to four Union ministries - the Social Justice and Empowerment, the Women and Child Development, the Urban and Rural...  
01:49 AM, Oct 02, 2012

Now, transgenders to be included in railway statistics Mumbai: The Government Railway Police (GRP) has started a new website, displaying figures of the number of men, women and transgenders who have fallen victim to railway accidents. This is the first time that transgenders have been included in the GRP administration statistics. According to GRP officers, they have been asked from their superiors to compile the list in three categories, male, female and transgender. The total number of accidents...  
02:37 PM, Aug 11, 2012

Miss Universe to include transgender women New Delhi: The Miss Universe pageant is changing its rules and will allow transgender women to take part in all of its competitions starting in 2013, the organization and gay rights group GLAAD said on Tuesday. Tuesday's decision follows a media outcry over the disqualification of Canadian contestant Jenna Talackova from the upcoming Miss Universe Canada contest because she was not a 'naturally born female.' Talackova 23, who underwent gender...  
06:43 PM, Apr 10, 2012

Aravani flesh trade on new high in Chennai CHENNAI: On a long drive along the city roads at night, you cant miss spotting transgender streetwalkers in dazzling attire, waiting for customers at vantage points - from the CMDA truck terminal at Madhavaram to the gates of ritzy hotels in Nungambakkam to the deserted Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) stations on the Old Mahabalipuram Road. Not only have their numbers gone up, the pick-up points too have increased, making...  
08:42 AM, Dec 05, 2011

Sexual minorities fight AIDS with NGO's help
by IANS
Belgaum (Karnataka): In a dark room in Belgaum district, they sit together looking comfortable. They are in an office and are not even distantly related. But, as is often true of sexual minorities, the homosexuals and transgenders assembled here are as closely knit as biological families. Their biggest complaint is non-acceptance from society, and their strength is Sweekar, a community-based organisation that works to support the sexual minorities and spreads...  
03:09 PM, Nov 30, 2011

Hema Malini supports film on transgenders
by IANS
Mumbai: Although certain topics are considered a taboo in the industry even now, director David Atkins has shown courage and has helmed a film on transgenders called Queens! Destiny Of Dance, which got full support of actress Hema Malini, who came to launch the music of the film. Queens! Destiny Of Dance that is slated to hit screens on April 29th, narrates the issues of transgenders in the country and...  
11:49 AM, Apr 12, 2011

Other sex: new category for Census 2011 Kolkata: Thirty-eight-year old Nitai can now stand up and get counted. India, after 64 years of its Independence, has decided to give her an identity and Census 2011 will have a new sex category for her. Apart from male and female, there will be a third option for the question of gender - the other. Battling social discrimination and isolation for years Nitai and her friends are happy that they...  
09:08 AM, Feb 10, 2011

Parents of gay kids come out in their support They have asked the Supreme Court to uphold a ruling that decriminalized homosexuality in 2009. ...  
08:51 AM, Feb 10, 2011

Parents of gay kids come out in their support

They have asked the Supreme Court to uphold a ruling that decriminalized homosexuality in 2009. ...
08:51 AM, Feb 10, 2011

Coming soon! A reality show starring transgenders An advertising company based in Kannur is behind this new concept of reality show titled Chaanthupottu. ...  
11:25 AM, Aug 13, 2010

Ynot: Coming out of the closet

Being queer and living in Indian society is never easy. ...
03:25 PM, Oct 31, 2009

Delhi gears up to celebrate gay pride
by IANS
New features have been added for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals this year. ...  
03:44 PM, May 27, 2009

Zindagi Live: Issues of a man who feels like a woman

Harare: An undefeated 88 from skipper Hashim Amla led South Africa to a 39-run victory over Bangladesh on Tuesday in the second match of a non-cap Twenty20 tri-nations tournament. South Africa made 209 for 3 off 20 overs in cool, partly cloudy conditions at Harare Sports Club and Bangladesh reached 170-8 in reply to suffer a second defeat in three days after failing by 11 runs against hosts Zimbabwe. Amla, ...
12:32 AM, Jun 02, 2008

No fear for being queer | Special Lesbian, gays, and hijras have come out the closet like never before as a part of a pan-India queer movement. ...  
09:15 AM, May 30, 2007