After the bold decision of legalising homosexuality by Supreme Court, Odisha’s first transgender government officer plans to get married to her live-in partner. The SC on Thursday struck down section 377 and paved a long way for the LGBTQIA+ community.
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The court should now allow the marriage of the same sex, inheritance of property and all the equal rights given to all the people should be given to them.
“Now marriage is confined to male and female only. The court needs to empower citizens like us to legally marry the man whom we love, adore and respect. Its a matter of time only. The apex court would be kind enough to confer these rights to us,”Aishwarya Rutuparna Pradhan said.
She had come out as a successful person when she cleared her Odisha Financial Service examination in 2010 and she is now posted as a Commercial Tax Officer (CTO) in Paradip.
“The Apex court ruling dated April 15, 2014 recognising the transgender under the third gender category and guaranteeing their constitutional rights was a shot in the arm for me. I had made up my mind to opt for third gender identity instead of male gender and written to the state government. Only last year, I have been recognised officially as transgender on all official records,” she said.
Aishwarya said “We all are eagerly waiting for the implementation of special marriage act or a new law for LGBTQ community. I have a boyfriend. We nurture the hope that we will marry soon. We will wait for apex courts favourable ruling in this regard. I have dream of my own a happy family with my life partner. I have resolved to adopt an orphan girl child following the marriage.”
Aishwarya Rutuparna belongs to a Kanabagiri village under G Udaygiri block in Odisha’s Kandhamal district. Her father served in Army.
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“Gender identity has not posed any sort of hindrances in discharging responsibilities and duties assigned to me. The general public is appreciative of my work. They all like and respect me. I never felt belittled being a third-gender,” she said.