A transsexual model will appear in premiere at an Indian fashion parade
A transsexual model will appear on the catwalk for the first time in February, at one of the top events of the Indian fashion, as a sign of an opening of this country in front of a community which continues to be ostracized despite the laws issued in the last period of time in order to ensure such persons a better protection and more chances, informs Reuters. Anjali Blade, from Nepal, has given an audience for Lakmé Fashion Week a year ago, but she was rejected. But, she will walk on the catwalk this year for many designers at an event which will take place between 1 and 5 February in Mumbai, India.
Born under the name Nabin Waiba Tamang, Blade, claims that she has adopted the name Anjali, one common in Nepal and India, after a transsexual friend suggested her. She entered the Academy of modeling in Kathmandu without saying this to her family. But when someone from her village found out that she lived like a transsexual woman and unveiled everything to all the members of her family, they have broken any relation with her and told her that she is a disappointment. Starting with 2006, after a decade of conflicts between Nepal and the Maoist rebels, the awareness regarding the rights of the LGTB community has started to increase in this country.
In 2007, the Supreme Court ordered that citizens have the right to choose the sexual identity. Also, Nepal assures, through its new constitution, the protection of the LGBT community’s citizens, and from 2015 are issued passports in which the third category of genre is specified, Nepal being one of the very few countries in the world to do so. However, the discrimination and abuses are still present and the transgender persons can hardly find a job.