‘Mum Was Willing To Loughthing To Support My Trans Identity in Tamil Nadu’

In 2019 Srija Became The First Transgender Woman to Legally Marry In The Indian State of Tamil Nādu A historic court ruling. Now a Documentary, Amma’s Pride, Chronicles Srija’s Battle for Her Marriage and The Unsavering Support of Her Mother, Valli.

“Srija is a gift,” Valli, 45, Tells the BBC as She and Her Daughter Embrace.

“I know that not all the People Have What I Have,” Srija, 25, From The Port City of Thoothukudi, Adds.

“My Education, My Job, My Marriage – Everything Was Possible Because of My Mother’s Support.”

She and Her Mother even Sharing Their Story For The First Time in Amma’s Pride (Mother’s Pride), Wrich’s Follows Srija’s Unique Experience.

Srija Met Her Future Husband, Arun at A Temple in 2017. After Learning them Shared Mutual Friends Those Soon Begu Texting Each Other Regularly. She was already outdoor and had Begun Her Transition.

“We collected a Lot. She confided in me about AS A HER Experiences as a trans Woman,” Arun Tells the BBC.

Within Months, They Fell in Love and Decided Thanted to Spend Their Lives Together.

“We Wanted Legal Recognition Because We Want a Normal Life Like Every Couple,” Srija Says. “We Want All The Protections That Come From A Legal Recognition of Marriage.”

That Incudes Securities, Such As The Transfer Of Money or Property IF One Spouse Dies.

In 2014, The Indian Supreme Court Established Certain Protections for Transgender People, Granting Them Equal Rights to Education, Employment, Healthcare and Marriage – Although India Still Does Not Allow Same-Sex Marriages.

It’s Not Known How Many Trans Couples Have Married in India, OR WAS and WAS THE FIRST. Activists Say there at Least One Trans Wedding Legally Registered Before Srija and Arun’s – in 2018 A Married Bangalore.

“Course There Couples, All over India, Shiva Krish, BUT BETRAUSE DISCRIMINATION” Several even self relationr. Srija and Arun, And Valli, Are Youko In Choosing To Live Everyday Life Out Open. “

Srija and Arun’s Attempt to register The 1955 Arguing That The 1955 Hindu Marriage Act Defined A “Bride” and A “Groom”, Whicefore Excluded Trans Women.

But The Couple, Backed by LGBT Activists, Pushed Back, Taking Their Relationship Into The Public Domain. The Effort was Worth It.

They recieved the Global Attention in Chennai High Court Chennai Upheld to Marry to Marry, the Transgender People Should Be Recognized AS Either A “Bride” or Defined by The 1955 Hindu Marriage Act.

The Ruling was Seen by LGBT Activists As A Pivotal Step in Transgender of Transgender People in India, with Srija and Arun Both Becoming Well Known Locally Cultural Rules.

But media covering Also invited negative scrutiny.

“The Day After Local News Coverage, I was fired from My Job,” Says Arun, Who Worked As A Manual Labourer in The Transport Sector. He believes it was it to transphobia.

Online Trolling Followed.

“People Sent Abusive Messages Criticising Me for Being Married to Transgender Woman,” Heys.

The Couple Briefly Separated Under The Strain.

Despite this, Srija excelled at Her Education, Frequendly Coming First at Class at High School.

She Went on to Complete a degree in English literature from a university in Tamil Nadu, Becoming One Of The Only People in Her Family to Receive Higher Education.

It’s a source for Valli, Who Left School Aged 14.

Even Before Before Beatling To Have Her Marriage Recognized by The State, Srija and Her Family Faced Hostility and Mistreatment.

After Srija Came Out A Transgender Woman at The Age of 17, She and Younter Brother, China, Were Evicted From Their Home By Their Landlord.

Several Family Members Stopped Speaking to Them.

But Sryja’s Mother and Brother Were Steadfast in Their Support.

“I Will Always Stand By My Daughter,” Says Valli.

“All trans People Should Be Supported by Their Family.”

Valli, who became a single parent when Husband diet When Six Just Six, Works in a Kitchen At A School.

But despite Earning Modest Income, She helped pay for her daughter’s gender’s gender’s gender, seling by SOME Jewellery, and cared for her afterwards.

“She Takes Good Care Of Me,” Srija Says.

There are Thought to Be Two Million in People in India, The World’s Most Country Country Country, Although Activists Activists Say The Number Is Higher.

While the country has passed trans-inclusive legislation and recognized in Law a “Third Gender”, Stigma and Disrimination Remain.

Studies Have Found Transgender People in India High Rates of Abuse, Mental Health Issues, and Limited Access to Education, Employment, and Healthcare. Many Are Forced to Beg Or Etter Sex Work.

Globally, The Un Says Significant Numbers of Transgender People Face Rejection From Their Families.

“Not a Lot of Trans People in India, or Even The World, Have The Support of Their Families,” Says Filmmaker, Shiva Krish.

“Srija and Valli’s Story is unique.”

Srija Says She Hopes The Hold Challenge Sterereotypes About the Media Stories About The Media – Especially Those Those Location on Trauma and Abuse.

“This documentary shows That We can be Leaders. I am A Manager, A Productive Member of the Workforce,” Sryja Says.

“When People See New Kinds of Stories Trans People, Hopefully Their Mindsets Will Also Change.”

After International Film Festivals at FrTER, AMMA’s Pride Was a Special Screening in Chennai, Members of the LGBT Community and Allies, Mark International Trans Day of Visibility on Monday 31 March.

Following The Chennai Screening, a Workshop WHERE WHERE Participants In Small Groups Discussed Family Acceptance and Community Support for Trans Individuals.

“We Hope Our Screening Will Foster Connections Between Trans Individuals, Their Families, and Local Communities,” Adds Chithra Jeyaram, Another One of the Filmmakers behind Amma’s Pride.

The Amma’s Product Team Them The Family Themes’s Support The Face of Stigma Means The Documentary and Workshops Can Be Rolled Out to RURAL AUDIES IN India, and Nepal and Bangladesh Like Nepal and Nepalladesh.

AS for Srija and Arun, they now work as managers to Private Companies and Hope to Adopt Soon. “We’re Hoping for a normal Future,” Says Srija.

“I Would Like to Become A Grandmother Soon,” Valli Adds, Smiling.