India’s first transgender mayor: ‘People have shown faith in me’
By Sam Rigby
India has elected its first transgender mayor.
Madhu Kinnar is the new mayor of Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh Municipal Corporation after defeating her opponent by 4,357 votes over the weekend, The Independent reports.
Kinnar stood as an independent candidate in the election, and funded her campaign by working as a singer and dancer on trains travelling from Howrah to Mumbai.
Speaking about her victory, she said: “It was the public support that encouraged me to enter the poll fray for the first time and because of their support only, I emerged as the winner.
“People have shown faith in me. I consider this win as love and blessings of people for me. I’ll put in my best efforts to accomplish their dreams.”
Kinnar’s victory follows the decision by India’s supreme court to recognise transgender people as a ‘third gender’ last year – read more here.
Despite the acceptance of the transgender community, homosexuality acts remain a criminal offence in the country.
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