India now officially recognizes transgender people as a third gender, if they so choose (via NPR).
In India, there are 2 to 3 million trans people (or hijras), but — like in America — it’s often difficult for them to find or keep jobs or get an education. Proper medical care is almost impossible as hospitals won’t treat someone they can't classify as male or female. Many become prostitutes or beggars as a last resort.
The addition of trans as a gender makes it illegal to discriminate against transgender people, and gives them access to all of the rights other Indians have, including, as the Supreme Court put it, “the right of every human being to choose their gender.”
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