Padmini Prakash Becomes The First Transgender News Anchor In India | HuffPost Life

Introducing India's First Transgender News Anchor...

Rachel Moss— The Huffington Post UK

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On the eve of this year's Indian Independence day, the country made a huge leap towards transgender acknowledgment and acceptance when Padmini Prakash became the first transgender person to read the news on live TV.

Considering that India only legally recognised the country's transgender population in April of this year, nobody knew quite how Padmini's appearance would be received.

But the 31-year-old's show was so popular, she has now been promoted to become the face of Lotus News Channel's daily 7pm special bulletin.

Speaking to Yahoo India, Padmini said: "In the media transgenders are shown as someone performing dance, singing songs and as a comedy piece, but what I am doing as a news anchor is a very responsible job.

"Why should I not come in front of a camera? Why should my face not be known to everyone? Because of what I am doing we can see changes in the society."

The news anchor overcame early setbacks in order to achieve her dream. It's been widely reported that Padmini was bullied as a child for being "different" and was disowned by her family at the age of 13.

Padmini dropped out of college due to the harassment she faced over her gender identity, and now supports several campaigns for transgender rights.

Although she moved into news fairly recently, Padmini is not a new face to many in India - she has previously starred in a soap opera, competed in beauty pageants and worked as a classical dancer.

She joined Lotus New Channel, a station based in Coimbatore in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, at the start of August and after a few short weeks at the station, she was chosen to anchor the Independence Day 15 August broadcast.

Her recent promotion proves just how far India has come in terms of accepting, and even celebrating, gender diversity.

According to The Times of India, Lotus News Channel chairman GKS Selvakumar said: "We are supportive of Padmini because she is very hard-working.

"After initial trials, we were convinced that she had the potential to be an excellent news anchor."

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McDonald's Supports Transgender Rights With Bathroom Message(03 of09)

In light of recent controversy surrounding McDonald's treatment of the company's employees, one Washington franchise of the fast food chain impressively allowed transgender individuals to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. The letter read,

We respect the rights of all customers and employees. We believe all people must have access to safe and dignified bathroom facilities regardless of their gender identity or expression. Therefore, the following policy has been adopted for this restaurant at 1530 3rd Avenue ... Employees and customers may use any restroom that corresponds with and is based upon the gender identity they publicly and exclusively assert or express.

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First Openly Transgender Character In Mainstream Comics(04 of09)

DC Comic fans were introduced to Alysia in "Batgirl" #19 in early April, who went on to reveal that she is transgender during a conversation with Barbara Gordon (Batgirl). The move made Alysia not only the first DC Comics transgender character but the first transgender character in mainstream comics. (credit:DC Comics)

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Top Russian Lawyer Comes Out As Trans, Announces Presidential Campaign(07 of09)

In wake of the pervasive climate of fear and violence plaguing LGBT Russians, top Russian lawyer Masha Best came out as both transgender and bisexual in protest of the country's institutionalized homophobia. Best later went on to announce her campaign for the Russian presidency in 2018. Here, Best poses nude in honor of the 2013 Transgender Day of Remembrance. (credit:Masha Best)

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Other states also met these bills with resistance, with one Arizona lawmaker, John Kavanagh, attempting to push through legislation that would prosecute transgender people for using a public restroom if their appearance didn't match the listed gender on their identification. One local new station dubbed this the "Show Me Your Papers Before You Go Potty" bill. The backlash convinced the lawmaker to tone down the language of his bill, and put it on hold until next year. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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