Kerala Will Host the First State-Wide Athletic Meet for the Transgender Community

Even as Indian society continues to evolve into a more progressive and inclusive mindset, there is still a long way to go, especially when it comes to the rights of the transgender community.

Taking one massive leap forward, it has been announced that Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala will be hosting the first state-wide athletic meet of the transgender community on April 28.

Image for representation. Photo source: pixabay

Organisers hope that the event allows the members of the community to celebrate their own sporting prowess. Shyama S, a trans woman and a member of the organising committee, told the Times of India that this event was a dream come true for her. She said, “The fear of mockery forces us to stay away from sports days in schools and colleges. Even though we have made our presence felt in the cultural spaces and showcased our talents like in mimicry, dance, mono act and so on, we were never given a platform to explore and experience our skills in sports until now.”

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Being conducted by the Kerala State Sports Council, the meet will feature a number of sporting events such as relay, short-put, 100m sprint, 200m sprint and more. According to event coordinator Anil Arjunan, this would be the first time the government had initiated such an event. The chief minister of the state Pinarayi Vijayan is also a member of the organising committee as is minister for sports and youth affairs A C Moideen. The meet will be preceded by a three-day affair that will include coaching for the athletes as well as warm up events.

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