Indian Transgender To Take Part In Independence Day Parade

Indian transgender community to take part in an Independence Day parade. 32 members of the transgender community practice their steps ahead of a parade in Odisha state on August 15 where they'll march alongside security forces. This is the 1st time members of the community will take part.

Mohini participant said that "We will be doing something new. We want to give a message to the society that we too can move ahead in life."

Earlier in June, Odisha State became the 1st region in the country to give transgender people social welfare benefits. A landmark judgement in 2014 recognized transgender as a legal 3rd gender. Activists say there are hundreds of thousands of transgender people in India. Many face discrimination, including verbal, physical and sexual abuse.