Dakshayani
Age 1730 Aug 2021
Salem, Tamil Nadu (India)
Stabbed
TDoR list ref: tgeu/30-Aug-2021/Dakshayani
Dakshayani was murdered by her 25 year old brother, Selvaraj, who claimed he did it in order to protect his family’s reputation.
A 17-year-old transgender girl was murdered in Tamil Nadu’s Salem district, allegedly by her brother who didn’t approve of his sibling’s gender id. The teenager’s identify was Dakshayani, based on trans neighborhood members in Salem, and he or she was murdered at Thuttampatti village of Salem district on August 30. The Tharamangalam police arrested 25-year-old Selvaraj, who reportedly stated that he killed his sibling as a result of he seen her trans id as a ‘shame’ to his household and kin.
Selvaraj and Dakshayani have been reportedly dwelling with their kin after their mother and father died. Rakshika Raj, a social activist and one of many first out trans girls to work as a nurse on the Chengalpattu GH, says, “Ever since Dakshayani started expressing her gender, she has faced abuse from her family. Over time, she befriended a few trans women in Salem and ran away to Chengalpattu, because living with the abusive birth family became difficult for the minor.”
However, as a result of Dakshayani was a minor, this posed numerous challenges for herself and the neighborhood. Legally, a minor needs to be in the care of their birth household, or in a rehabilitation facility — however provided that ordered by a courtroom. While trans individuals by way of the ages have discovered their chosen families inside trans communities, the Rights of Transgender Persons Act, 2019, doesn’t recognise the neighborhood as “family” — and insists on trans kids, who typically face abuse from their birth families, to stick with them. While transgender communities throughout the nation opposed the Bill when it was launched in Parliament, it was nonetheless handed by the federal government and is in pressure at the moment.
TvT partner organisation: APTN
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