Panaji, April 23 (). More than 10,000 people from the LGBT community live in Goa. They have been fighting for their right to same-sex marriage for the last two decades to overcome the social stigma and live happily in the coastal state.
There are seven transgenders in Goa who have been given election cards, but have complained that they are discriminated against in jobs.
Speaking to , Lal Baig, project manager of Humsaath Trust Goa, said that around 4,500 LGBT members are registered with this trust. The LGBT community has over 10,000 members, he said. Some voluntarily come to us and register. But some stay away.
We need permission for same-sex marriages, he said. Many people who do not have a partner commit suicide. If we start living together after getting legal recognition of gay marriage, then such cases of suicide will not come.
It is an equal right which we should also get, he said. We have been fighting for a long time, probably for the last two decades. We don’t even have the right to adopt a child.
Beg said, if we live together, we do not get the right to property after the death of that partner. We cannot claim property from our partner. This should be changed and we should be given that right.
He said that the members of his trust are mostly from the middle class as the upper classes are not registered.
According to them once they get permission they will get approval from their partners and other people’s families. There will be no discrimination after getting the recognition, he said. Right now people look at us in a bad way. It is a terrible situation for transgenders as they do not get a place to live. There are many issues, they don’t get jobs. Same thing happens with homosexuals, once the society comes to know that a person is homosexual, they don’t get jobs.
He said that small programs are organized for LGBT and their counseling is done. He said, 25 lesbians are registered in our trust. They also come and enjoy the programs.
Talking to , transgender Beena (name changed) said that she should get all the rights that others get.
Beena said, if there was a law to marry, I would have got married long back and settled down with my family. But today I am 47 years old and now I cannot even think of getting married at this age. However, there should be a law so that this generation can at least settle down.
Talking about the social stigma, Beena said that even the people of her village are not accepting her.
He said, I left my home after completing my studies in college. I came to Goa and worked as a sex worker and then some NGO told about HIV then I left this business. Later I started begging and till today I am doing this work.
We face many issues. No one gives us a room on rent or a job. That’s why we are forced to beg. Here we are harassed by the authorities and the public. We also have the right to live with dignity and therefore we should get all the rights. Gay marriage should be considered.
She said, I also want to appeal to the people to be alert about fake transgenders in the state. They just wear a saree and make-up. They are men and choose this guise to earn money by cheating people.
Beena, who is from the Konkan belt of Maharashtra, said people should not discriminate against her, she should be seen as a human being.
Another transgender who married a normal man from Goa said that same-sex marriage should be allowed as it is important. “My husband’s family members have slowly started accepting me,” she said.
She said, I fight for transgenders and I even feel that there should be separate lockups for us in police stations. Whenever a transgender is arrested, the police get confused as to which lockup to put us in.
One gay said on the condition of anonymity that the court should consider his demand and give him legal recognition. That said, our body naturally changes. If we want to be with the partner of our choice then this right should be given to us.
PK/SKP
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