Source: mynation.com
Thiruvananthapuram: Members of the transgender community can now stay in the Thanal shelter home constructed by the Kerala Social Justice Department. The shelter home Thanal can accommodate 25 persons.
The newly opened short-stay home at Kunnukuzhy in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala provides stay and food for the LGBTQ community members. Transgender men who are going through sex reassignment surgery can also stay here.
Medical care is also provided by the Government Medical College Hospital through its community medicine department to the transgender members.
Soon after the project was inaugurated, eight transmen submitted a request for admission. However, only two of them turned up. Transmen like Abel and Siddharth are presently staying at the Thanal shelter home, as they were rejected by their family members.
To give counselling to the transgender members, a counsellor is also available at Thanal. The transgender men staying at the facility will also be able to avail free legal aid.
Abel, a native of Alappuzha realised about his identity when he was in Class 10. He left his native and moved to Chennai at the age of 18. Soon he found a job there and last year, he got married but the relationship did not work. Abel is undergoing treatment for sex reassignment surgery too. Siddharth from Malappuram also struggled after he identified his identity is also staying at Thanal.