Why is Tamil Nadu the place to be if you’re transgender? Perhaps it’s political mobilisation. Eunuchs are concentrated in the north-western districts of Tamil Nadu, which are PMK strongholds, and it helps that the PMK’s Ramadoss’s are doctors with progressive views on sexuality.  In addition, as V. Geetha, author of a book on Dravidian politics, points out: “Dalit panthers have supported transgenders — many of whom are Dalits themselves.” But at a mere 60,000, transgenders in Tamil Nadu don’t ride on just their voting power, but also on the historic gender-sensitivity of the Dravidian movement. Its founder E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker,  popularly known as Periyar, placed gender-justice at the heart of his social reform initiatives. On women’s issues, Tamil Nadu is near the top of India’s chart. Transgender rights fits into this larger social movement. And as cultural critic Sadanand Menon said, “this might explain why in popular Tamil cinema, the ubiquitous eunuch is a source of humour as well as sympathy.” 

It’s not just political and cinematic support for eunuchs in Tamil Nadu that is cutting edge; the out-of-the-box welfare schemes are markedly different from how the government usually targets disadvantaged groups. India’s constitution does not recognise ‘sexuality minorities’ as being recipients of “special provisions” — under articles 15(4) and 16(4), only scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, ‘socially and educationally backward classes’, women and children can benefit from quotas, scholarships and other forms of affirmative action. But Tamil Nadu’s willingness to stretch constitutional imagination (traditionally confined to just reservations) through innovative ideas means that the way it treats transgenders is rivalled by few.  

... contd.