Right to marry shouldn't be limited to men and women, Akkai Padmashali tells MP

BENGALURU: In response to Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Modi's speech about same-sex marriage, transgender and sexual minorities rights activist Akkai Padmashali has penned an open letter to the MP."I was deeply disturbed to see your speech in Rajya Sabha warning against legal recognition to same-sex marriage. As a transgender person part of the Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual Tansgender Queer Intersex Jogappa Marladi++ movement, I believe the right to marry should be applicable to all persons and not restricted to 'men' and 'women'," the letter read.Terming Modi's comments distressing, Padmashali asked him to consider tendering an apology to the LGBTQI community. "We fight for the right to equality and dignity for all persons. Some of us may be left and other liberal and yet others part of the hijra, transgender and sexual minority communities... Our support for marriage for all is deeply rooted in the history and traditions of this land...," the letter read. "I was born a male, though I always knew my identity was of a woman. With increased awareness and confidence, I've transitioned into a woman. However, the denial to those of us who are not biologically women is a denial of the very principle of equality..."-