Sidelined in society and policy, transmen seek more job opportunities

Sand flew around as Sharma slid to cross the line to safeguard himself and his team in the Kabaddi tournament. But just as he thought he made it, the other team members began to drag him back by his feet. A gut-wrenching scream and a great push, he touched the line to get back to his team as the crowd cheered.

Sharma, a transman, was playing at the Transmen Kabaddi Tournament organised by Urimai Kural Trust in Chennai on Saturday. The tournament was an effort to increase awareness and recognition of transmen in the country. “The entire country thinks that transperson equals transwomen. There is a lack of awareness among society and within the trans community itself on the existence of transmen. This puts us at a double disadvantage as it invisibilises us from not just policy but also opportunities such as education and employment,” said Fred Rogers, transman and founder of Urimai Kural Trust.