Transexuals gaining their own gender: O (Others), India

Indian election authorities Thursday granted an independent identity to intersex and transsexuals in the country's voter lists. Before, members of these groups were referred to as male or female in the voter rolls. But now, they will have the choice to tick "O" -- for others -- when indicating their gender in voter forms, the Indian election commission said in a statement. India, home to more than 1 billion people, has 714 million registered voters. Intersexual people are seen as a marginalized community in India. Many end up begging on the streets, becoming prostitutes or earning their livelihood by dancing at celebrations.In July, an Indian court delivered a landmark ruling legalizing gay sex between consenting partners in the country.

The July verdict meant the law -- Indian penal code section 377, which had previously criminalized consensual homosexual acts between adults -- was partly struck down but remains in place as far as forced homosexual acts are concerned. It was not clear whether the ruling -- which was later challenged by an astrologer in India's highest court -- would eventually lead to legalization of gay marriages in the country.

This notion made in India may be one of significance as these members of the public gain an identity of their own, it also means one thing, India is slowly becoming more liberal and at the same time it meant that these individuals would slowly become integrated into India's society and become a part of them, making them less discriminated as they are being accepted. Furthermore, as more doors are being opened to these individuals, they may no longer need to work as those jobs in the red light district and thus reducing the number of vices present in India.