NEW DELHI, November 13 (RIA Novosti) - Indian citizens who consider themselves neither men, nor women, will be allowed to vote in elections as representatives of a third sex, the Times of India said on Friday.
The Indian election committee took the decision following demands by transsexuals, eunuchs and human rights organizations, the paper said. Transgender citizens will now be able to identify themselves as "Other" on electoral rolls.
"When we received the request, we willingly agreed to fulfill it," a commission member said. "Why should we leave a whole segment of citizens out in the cold?" he said.
The spokesman expressed hope that the country's government would follow their example in officially recognizing transsexuals and eunuchs as representatives of a third gender.
