>Ser Amantio di Nicolao at 01:27, 26 June 2021

2021-06-26T01:27:39Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}}
{{multiple issues|
{{essay-like|date=April 2018}}
{{notability|Biographies|date=April 2018}}
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{{Infobox person
| name = Akkai Padmashali
| image = File:Akkai_Padmashali.jpg
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Bangalore]], [[India]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Transgender rights activist|singer}}
| awards = [[Rajyotsava Prashasti|Karnataka Rajyotsava Award]]
}}

'''Akkai Padmashali''' is an Indian [[transgender activist]], motivational speaker, and singer. For her work in activism she has received the [[Rajyotsava Prashasti]], the second highest civilian honor of the state of Karnataka, and an honorary doctorate from the Indian Virtual University for Peace and Education.<ref name="dec">{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/041117/gender-is-about-the-right-to-choose-akkai-padmashali.html|title=Urban Legend: 'Gender is about the right to choose'|author=Ralph Alex Arakal|date=2017-11-04|access-date=2018-04-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424150622/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/041117/gender-is-about-the-right-to-choose-akkai-padmashali.html|archive-date=2018-04-24|website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/37454/in-a-first-karnataka-govt-to-honour-a-transgender-with-the-rajyotsava-award/|title=In a First, Karnataka Govt to Honour a Transgender with the Rajyotsava Award|date=2015-10-31|website=The Better India|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/a-moment-of-pride/article26002391.ece|title=A moment of pride|last=R|first=Shilpa Sebastian|date=2019-01-16|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-06-11|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> She is also the first transgender person in [[Karnataka]] to register their marriage.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/akkai-padmashali-is-1st-transgender-to-register-for-marriage-in-karnataka/articleshow/62639638.cms|title=Akkai Padmashali is 1st transgender to register for marriage in Karnataka|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-04-21}}</ref>

== Early life and career ==
Assigned male at birth, Padmashali is from [[Bangalore]].<ref name=better>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/21961/how-jagadeesh-became-akkai-padmashali-and-a-transgender-activist-was-born/|title=At 12 She Wanted To Die. Today She Is Inspiring Hundreds To Fight For Transgender Rights & Justice.|date=2015-04-14|work=The Better India|access-date=2018-04-21}}</ref> Her father was in the airforce and her mother is a homemaker. Padmashali tried her best to conform to the assigned gender identity, failing when she tried to kill herself at the age of 12. Gradually, she disclosed to her brother about her gender identity. While travelling to school, she would watch trans women near [[Cubbon Park]], [[Bangalore]] and she wanted to be like them.<ref name="womenpla">{{Cite news|url=http://womenpla.net/i-am-a-transgender-i-am-a-proud-woman-born-without-vagina-breasts-and-uterus-akkai-padmashali/|title=I Am A Transgender, I Am A Proud Woman Born Without Vagina, Breasts And Uterus : Akkai Padmashali|date=2015-07-31|access-date=2018-04-21}}</ref> She spoke in an interview about how her parents would get angry and chide her every time she used to wear her sister's clothes or play with girls, which resulted in making her childhood a really confused one.<ref name=better /> It is her brother who tried to convince their parents, who refused to understand and accept the way she is. They would take her to doctors and other specialists. Padmashali had to drop her studies after tenth grade. Later, she was forced to go into sex work, which she continued for four years. That's when she got in touch with other transgender persons and was able to empathize with their experiences.<ref name="dec" />

In an interview, Padmashali said, "I did not choose to become an anti-social element or unwanted person to the society. My fight was for 'Acceptance and Social Inclusion', for the transformation and the discrimination against biological sex which was with me since birth." Padmashali, in the company of other trans persons, realized that government policies weren't in favor of the transgender community and they face harsh inequality on various circumstances.<ref name=womenpla />

On 1 November 2017 when former [[Barack Obama|US President Barack Obama]] came for his visit to India, Akkai Padmashali was the first trans woman to be invited to be a part of the Town Hall. She had been invited to the White House prior to this in 2015, but at that time she could not attend.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/301117/bengaluru-activist-akkai-padmashali-invited-to-obamas-town-hall.html|title=Bengaluru activist Akkai Padmashali invited to Obama’s Town Hall|date=2017-11-30|work=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=2018-04-21}}</ref>

She is the first transgender person in the country who got a driving license stating her gender as female. Padmashali was also invited by the President of India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the CJI of India. She is married to her long time partner, Vasu, a trans man. Padmashali is the first transgender person in [[Karnataka]] to register their marriage in [[Karnataka]].<ref name=womenpla />

== Activism ==
Padmashali started her career of activism at [[Sangama (human rights group)|Sangama]], an LGBT Right group based out of [[Bangalore]] where she was motivated to inspire many more minds. Since then she has been fighting a battle for ensuring dignity and rights of transgender persons as well sexual minority.<ref name=better /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/230119/pride-against-prejudice.html|title=Pride against prejudice|last=Prarthana|first=Ruth|date=2019-01-23|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2019-06-11}}</ref> She felt that the draconian law of Section 377 of Indian Penal Code should be abolished, because she had been abused and violated by police on multiple occasions under this law.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/let-s-talk-about-377-this-regressive-law-denies-me-dignity-transgender-activist-akkai-padmashali/story-Ix7B0WKyoyyznbVw4MsmGM.html|title=Let’s Talk About 377 {{!}} This regressive law denies me dignity: Transgender activist Akkai Padmashali|date=2018-02-08|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=2018-04-21}}</ref> Police, in multiple instances would force sex from transgender persons or threaten, malign or abuse them. She founded the organization named ‘Ondede’,<ref name=womenpla /> a human rights organization to advocate the rights of children, women and sexual minorities. Padmashali has filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India against Section 377 stating that the colonial law is violative of the constitutional rights as well as the 2014 [[National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India|NALSA]] judgment.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/211117/centres-transgender-bill-ridiculous-laments-activist-akkai-padmashali.html|title=Centre’s Transgender Bill ridiculous, laments activist Akkai Padmashali|date=2017-11-21|work=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=2018-04-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/india-transgender-community-celebrates-victory-190528114348151.html|title=India's transgender community celebrates victory, but needs more|last=Doulatramani|first=Chandni|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=2019-06-11}}</ref> She was against the Centre's proposed Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2017. In an interview Padmashali said that she would prefer being called a woman, not a trans woman.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Padmashali, Akkai}}
[[Category:Transgender in Asia]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:LGBT people from India]]
[[Category:LGBT writers from India]]
[[Category:Transgender rights activists]]
[[Category:LGBT rights activists from India]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Rajyotsava Award 2015]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Women civil rights activists]]

Akkai Padmashali - Revision history

>Ser Amantio di Nicolao at 01:27, 26 June 2021