A journey beyond the two check-boxes of gender | Laxmi Tripathi | TEDxKIITUniversity

Acharya Laxmi Tripathi belongs to the oldest ethnic transgender community of the world - the 'hijrah’ community. She is an advocate for the rights of the hijra, in India, that identifies its members as neither male nor female. Tripathi was the plaintiff in litigation winning legal recognition for a third gender from the Indian Supreme Court in 2014, and she has worked to broaden gender definitions at the United Nations and other global forums on HIV and AIDS.
Through the power of sheer will and the ability to persevere, she went on to establish herself, as well as the others of her kind, as the undeniable part of Indian culture that they have always been.
‘Astitva’, an organization started by Acharya Laxmi works to promote the welfare of sexual minorities, their support and development. She has also been campaigning against section 377 of the Indian penal code that criminalises ‘carnal intercourse against the order of nature’. She believes that children are not born with an assigned sexuality; rather they are made to fit into the boxes that have been carefully labeled by the world. In this talk, Acharya Laxmi asks us to believe in, and understand our own existence, but above all, she inspires us to love ourselves for what we truly are. A transgender social activist, dancer, actress, celebrity. Laxmi’s aim is to bring about the recognition of human rights of sexual minorities, especially transgender persons, and people living with HIV/AIDS. Through media appearances, national, regional and international consultancy, cooperating with various NGOs across the country and presiding over the CBO Astitva Trust, Laxmi is at the forefront of social work and advocacy in India. She was the first transgender person to represent Asia-Pacific in the UN President’s Office Civil Society Task Force on HIV/AIDS. Her work and personality were an inspiration for numerous literary, cinematographic and photographic enterprises. She is has complete her graduation in B.Com from Mitibai College (Bombay University) and M.A. in Bharat Natyam, Bombay University (under Baby Jonnie, Vaishali, Shri Shri Kalamani Mahalingam Pillay and Vasant Kumar Pillay). This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx