Eunuchs can vote, contest as 'others'

NEW DELHI: In a welcome sign of freeing sexual identity from age-old biases and stereotypes, Election Commission on Thursday gave transsexuals

and eunuchs a distinct identity. Instead of faking themselves as male or female, they can identify themselves in electoral rolls as `Others'. This means they can contest elections with `Others' identity.

Coming close on the heels of Centre's support to Delhi High Court's decision decriminalising Section 377 of the IPC allowing consensual sex between people of the same gender, EC's decision to bring this group into the mainstream is bound to be hailed by civil rights groups. There will now be immense pressure on central and state governments to do the same at all levels of citizens' interface with the state. Many European countries have provided a separate identity to transsexuals/eunuchs.