The words that looks can be deceptive and never judge a book by its cover are so true in case of transgender persons. Persons of the third gender, disowned by their own families, looked down up on by the community and not treated as human beings in our society. All this for no fault of theirs!
In one of the women empowerment awareness programmes that was recently hosted in our city, transgender Tasleema Nasreen, who was a special invitee interacted with the students of this college and advised them to treat transgender persons with due respect. “When you look from a distance you are attracted towards the physical appearance of a person. However, when that person begins to talk to you, why do you run away from the person? Just because you realized that the person whom you were attracted to is transgender. Not only you, a majority of persons treat transgender persons this way. And following the way transgenders are treated by the public, they (transgenders) too act harsh by saying a few bad words. If this attitude of the people changes, the attitude of transgender persons too will surely change.” Tasleema said. She asked her audience to treat transgender persons with due respect.
Telling the audience that a transgender is born this way for no fault of theirs, she told the women audience of this college that the country will not change by seeking the blessings of transgender persons. “We the third gender, better known as transgenders are a talented lot. What we require is acceptance and a platform to display our talents and skills.
Our own parents out of shame and due to social pressure disowns us and the society on the other hand, society fails to accept us. This is what pushes us (transgender persons) to beg on the roads and turn to prostitution for a living. Again, it all boils down to accepting us and giving us an opportunity. I am confident that we will surely be on par with men and women in our society in all fields.” Tasleema said.
Narrating her struggle for survival, Tasleema told her audience that when news of her being a member of the third gender spread, the people who were known to her family, left no opportunity to remind her parents of her identity. This put her parents and siblings to so much shame that her parents even attempted to kill her by mixing poison in her food. “The biryani laced with poison was the last meal I ate in my own home. I left home 17-years ago and my journey so far as a transgender has not been easy. However, I have overcome many hardships and I am what I am today because of the acceptance of people. I am requesting you all to accept and treat the transgender persons with due respect as tomorrow, when you pass out of this college, you will hold responsible positions in various fields. You can set an example to others.” Tasleema said.
Tasleema is the founder of Change Trust, an NGO that works towards the upliftment of fellow transgenders. She told her audience that she does not want transgenders to go through hardships, just like she did. It is with the intention of lending a helping hand in cash and in kind that she started this NGO and to her credit she has supported several transgenders.
At one time, Tasleema was denied treatment at the Coimbatore Government Hospital in our city. ironically, today, she operates out of an office in this campus. She helps patients at the GH with money to buy food, by giving them a piece of advice and she spends her time interacting with them.
Under her leadership, the Coimbatore Government Hospital (GH) has witnessed a sea change. However, Tasleema admits that she still has miles to go before she sleeps. A determined Tasleema left her audience urging them to treat the transgender persons with due respect.
In one of the women empowerment awareness programmes that was recently hosted in our city, transgender Tasleema Nasreen, who was a special invitee interacted with the students of this college and advised them to treat transgender persons with due respect. “When you look from a distance you are attracted towards the physical appearance of a person. However, when that person begins to talk to you, why do you run away from the person? Just because you realized that the person whom you were attracted to is transgender. Not only you, a majority of persons treat transgender persons this way. And following the way transgenders are treated by the public, they (transgenders) too act harsh by saying a few bad words. If this attitude of the people changes, the attitude of transgender persons too will surely change.” Tasleema said. She asked her audience to treat transgender persons with due respect.
Telling the audience that a transgender is born this way for no fault of theirs, she told the women audience of this college that the country will not change by seeking the blessings of transgender persons. “We the third gender, better known as transgenders are a talented lot. What we require is acceptance and a platform to display our talents and skills.
Our own parents out of shame and due to social pressure disowns us and the society on the other hand, society fails to accept us. This is what pushes us (transgender persons) to beg on the roads and turn to prostitution for a living. Again, it all boils down to accepting us and giving us an opportunity. I am confident that we will surely be on par with men and women in our society in all fields.” Tasleema said.
Narrating her struggle for survival, Tasleema told her audience that when news of her being a member of the third gender spread, the people who were known to her family, left no opportunity to remind her parents of her identity. This put her parents and siblings to so much shame that her parents even attempted to kill her by mixing poison in her food. “The biryani laced with poison was the last meal I ate in my own home. I left home 17-years ago and my journey so far as a transgender has not been easy. However, I have overcome many hardships and I am what I am today because of the acceptance of people. I am requesting you all to accept and treat the transgender persons with due respect as tomorrow, when you pass out of this college, you will hold responsible positions in various fields. You can set an example to others.” Tasleema said.
Tasleema is the founder of Change Trust, an NGO that works towards the upliftment of fellow transgenders. She told her audience that she does not want transgenders to go through hardships, just like she did. It is with the intention of lending a helping hand in cash and in kind that she started this NGO and to her credit she has supported several transgenders.
At one time, Tasleema was denied treatment at the Coimbatore Government Hospital in our city. ironically, today, she operates out of an office in this campus. She helps patients at the GH with money to buy food, by giving them a piece of advice and she spends her time interacting with them.
Under her leadership, the Coimbatore Government Hospital (GH) has witnessed a sea change. However, Tasleema admits that she still has miles to go before she sleeps. A determined Tasleema left her audience urging them to treat the transgender persons with due respect.