Kozhencherry: History was made on February 15 when two transgender people addressed the Maramon Convention, one of the largest Christian convention in Asia.
Hundreds of thousands of people attend the convention the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church hold annually on the vast sand-bed of the Pampa River in Kozhencherry in Pathanamthitta. This was the 123rd edition of the convention.
It was the first time that transgenders were given such an opportunity in a mega Church event.
Transgenders Selin Thomas alias Lakshmi and Sreekutty spoke about gender justice and the need for society to change and accept the the third gender people. The move by the church is seen as a path breaking one as it will help in gaining more acceptance for the marginalized community.
The Church, especially the current Metropolitan Joseph Mar Thoma, has been taking special interest in addressing the issues of transgenders. The church had also announced a series of projects aimed at reclaiming and protecting the rights of the transgender.
Welcoming the two TG speakers, the Metropolitan apologized to God on behalf of society for its failure to recognize the transgender.
“There are over 40,000 Transgenders in the state. Though they have all the god given talents, they are being marginalized due to some physical changes,” he said. He also said that a member of the church has come forward to donate a 2.5 acre land for setting up the center for transgender.
Selin Thomas was in tears of joy coming off the stage after the talk. “I am thankful to the Metropolitan and the church for creating history by giving us a chance,” she said. This will help in changing the attitude of the people here towards us,” said Selin who is settled in Delhi.
The 55-year-old, a native of Pandalam, had to leave her family at very young age as she was rejected for being a transgender. “I went to Mumbai, Bangalore before finally settling down in Delhi,” she said. “We don’t face any discrimination in Delhi. But in Kerala it is different,” she said.
During her speech, Selin said that it was her wish that her cremation should be conducted as per the rules of the church. She also narrated the heart-breaking experience when her siblings did not want her to come home when her mother died.
“Finally they agreed after I assured them that I won’t come and cry near her body. After the funeral when all had left I went to the cemetery and laid flowers and cried,” she said. She also mentioned about the various issues faced by them like denial of Insurance policies as they are neither male nor female and rehabilitation of elderly people.
Sreekutty who hails from Thiruvananthapuram was elated for becoming part of history. The 36-year-old talked about the need for the acceptance of the society. “We are being kept away by the society. We want to change this,” said Sreekutty who is the president of the Kerala Sexual Gender Minority Federation.
She also said that though the government has provided funds for various projects for the transgender, no benefits reach them.
The pilot project of the church was launched in Mumbai under the name Navodaya Movement where around 70 transgender people are being provided support. According to Fr Philip George, the Kerala coordinator of the ministry, the church will open a center for the transgener in two months in Pathanamthitta.
“It will be a rejuvenating center for them. To make them aware that they are normal as any other human being and help them to lead a normal and dignified life,” he said. The Church will also identify family and school dropouts and will protect them and will help them to lean in a normal school. The church is also providing guidance and counselling for those who go for Sexual reassignment surgery.
“We will also take care of them during the post-surgery period for eight months so that they will get complete rest,” he added.
The Church’s historical move has raked up controversy over permitting women to attend the convention held during night time. It has been an age-old custom of the convention that the women are not allowed entry to the convention after 6:30 pm.
In recent years there has been a difference of opinion among the believers, especially women. Those fighting to change this tradition welcomed the move regarding approach by the Church towards the TG. However, they hoped that the discrimination against women too will change.
“It is the need of the hour that transgender citizens get proper acceptance in society. What the Mar Thoma Church is doing now in this regard is truly appreciable. At the same time, it is highly condemnable that a discriminatory attitude is continued toward women by the Church. Instead of resisting and complaining, the Church should feel proud that the Maramon Convention site is open to women, men and transgenders equally. Instead of being delighted in the exclusivist tradition of ‘NO’ to women, the Church should be boasting on its inclusive character. I believe that the ball is in the court of the authorities,” Shanthi Mathai, Secretary, Indian Christian Women’s Movement (Kerala Chapter) and former Secretary, Mar Thoma Women’s Commission of the women’s movement of the Church.
(Times of India)