Interview
* Tell us something about your journey.
My journey is from caterpillar to butterfly. From ashes to the light. I was abandoned as a child, and by my own struggles I became India’s first trans sexual woman with seven international crowns. There was no support from family, nor was there support from LGBT community. Straight community has always supported me and with their support I am here.
* What do you think about the state of trans people in India?
It’s very regressive, there are many crimes against us, discrimination is one of them, we are not allowed to elite gyms and pubs and hotels. I, as a beauty queen, had to learn from Shilpa Shetty videos because no gyms allowed me to enter the gym.
* What appeal would you like to make to the government of India?
None.. They are trans phobic, we are not their vote banks.
* What message would you like to give to young trans women who undergo depression because of being bullied in school ?
There is always a silver lining in a dark cloud, a rainbow shall also come, please wait. Be independent and wait for the right moment to come out. Be empowered and empower others!
* What message do you want to give to parents of trans children?
The parents who ignore their trans children are idiots; they all need psychiatric help because they don’t stand by their children. Their children become sex workers, and beggars only because the parents don’t stand by them. My mother wants to kill me even today. My request to all the parents of the trans children- ‘ Be gentle with us. We are your own blood’.
