In a landmark ruling out of India’s supreme court transgendered people have officially been granted status as a third gender in the country. With the granting of rights to those who don’t identify as either male or female the courts said “it is the right of every human being to choose their gender.”
Indian trans people, often called hijra, are an ostracized group that often has trouble finding work because of their gender identity. This new ruling means that hijra/trans people will be included in government quotas for employment along with other recognized minority groups.
BBC estimates there are up to two million transgender people in India, a country with a population of over one billion people.
