India: ‘Mum was willing to lose everything to support my trans identity’

A transgender woman who became the first to legally marry in India's Tamil Nadu state speaks of her mother's unwavering support.
British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewsletters'My mum in India was willing to lose everything to support my trans identity'2 days agoShareSaveMegha MohanBBC World Service gender and identity correspondentShareSaveChithra Jeyaram/ BBCSrija, (L) who fought to have her marriage to Arun (C) legally recognised, says everything she's achieved has been made possible by her mother, Valli (R)In 2019 Srija became the first transgender woman to legally marry in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu after a historic court ruling. Now a new documentary, Amma's Pride, chronicles Srija's battle for state recognition of her marriage and the unwavering support of her mother, Valli.
"Srija is a gift," Valli, 45, tells the BBC as she and her daughter embrace.
"I know that not all trans people have what I have," Srija, 25, from the port city of Thoothukudi, adds.
"My education, my job, my marriage - everything was possible because of my mother's support."
She and her mother are sharing their story for the first time in Amma's Pride (Mother's Pride), which follows Srija's unique experience.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g9gz5edzko
Rating: 5