Transcending Barriers

Transgender people are fighting hard and patiently waiting for their chance to contest elections or get government jobs

- Shahina K K

TWENTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD Laya Maria Jaison is keen on avoiding the constant introduction of herself as a transgender individual. “Gender identity holds relevance only in specific contexts, not as an omnipresent descriptor. Are cisgender men or women consistently defined by their gender identity?” asks Laya, who is currently engrossed in the election campaign in the Puthuppally Assembly constituency in Kottayam district. The by-election in Puthuppally, scheduled to be held on September 5, is due to the passing of the former Chief minister and veteran Congress leader, Oommen Chandy. Laya Maria serves as a state committee member of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of CPIM, and has taken charge of the campaign activities within the constituency.

“Her political clarity and maturity is impressive,” says Reji Sakkariyas, the Kottayam district secretariat member of the CPI(M), expressing his admiration for her remarkable political clarity and maturity. He highlights her uncommon ability to engage with mainstream society through conversation rather than confrontation. He notes that she pursued her post graduation in a Women’s College that exclusively admits men for PG Courses. “Despite facing isolation and harassment during this transitional period, she confronted these challenges with courage,” says Sakkariyas. Her responsibility includes organising the campaign for the LDF candidate, Jaik P Thomas. In contrast, the UDF has nominated Chandy Oommen, the late former chief minister Oommen Chandy’s son.