KrystleZiemba7 at 22:44, 26 April 2026

2026-04-26T22:44:26Z

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{{short description|Indian LGBT activist}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}

{{Infobox person
| name = Laxmi Narayan Tripathi
| image = File:Laxmi Narayan Tripathi at JLF Melbourne presented by Melbourne Writers Festival, Federation Square, Melbourne 2017.jpg
| caption = Tripathi in 2017
| other names =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|12|13|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/mission-paani/laxmi-narayan-tripathi-the-activist-who-fought-against-all-odds-for-social-change-4446722.html|title=Laxmi Narayan Tripathi: The activist who fought against all odds for social change|work=News18 |date=18 November 2021}}</ref>
| birth_place = Thane, [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| years_active = 2006–present
| citizenship = Indian
| occupation = {{flat list|
*LGBT Activist
*[[actress]]
*[[dancer]]
*Motivational speaker
}}
}}
'''Laxmi Narayan Tripathi''' (known as '''Laxmi''', sometimes transliterated as '''Lakshmi''') is a [[transgender]]/[[Hijra (South Asia)|Hijra]] rights activist, bollywood actress, [[Bharatanatyam]] dancer, choreographer and motivational speaker in Mumbai, [[India]]. She is also the Acharya [[Mahamandaleshwar]] of the Kinnar Akhada. Despite rumours that she was removed from this appointment,<ref>{{Cite web|last=टाइम्स|first=नवभारत|date=2019-02-07|title=किन्नर अखाड़े पर डाक टिकट जारी, दो महंत बने महामंडलेश्वर|url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/astro/others/kumbh-2019-kinnar-akhara-expansion-make-two-new-mahamandaleshwar-54896/|access-date=2021-01-15|website=नवभारत टाइम्स|language=hi-IN|archive-date=23 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123040846/https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/astro/others/kumbh-2019-kinnar-akhara-expansion-make-two-new-mahamandaleshwar-54896/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kumbh Mela 2019: अब तक 13 अखाड़े कुंभ में होते थे शामिल, पहली बार किन्नर अखाड़े की एंट्री, जानें इनकी खासियत|url=https://hindi.timesnownews.com/spiritual/article/kumbh-mela-2019-these-14-akhadas-attending-know-the-interesting-facts-of-new-kinnar-akhada/347639|access-date=2021-01-15|website=hindi.timesnownews.com|language=hi|archive-date=21 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121215129/https://hindi.timesnownews.com/spiritual/article/kumbh-mela-2019-these-14-akhadas-attending-know-the-interesting-facts-of-new-kinnar-akhada/347639|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/kinnar-akhara-announces-mamta-kulkarni-and-laxmi-narayan-removed-from-the-post-of-mahamandaleshwar/articleshow/117777544.cms|title=Kinnar Akhara announces Mamta Kulkarni and Laxmi Narayan removed from the post of Mahamandaleshwar|work=The Times of India |date=31 January 2025}}</ref> Laxmi Narayan Tripathi leads the Akhara with the full support of the Akhara Parishad.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kinnar Akhada: Mahant Ravindra Puri ने दिया Laxmi Narayan Tripathi और Mamta Kulkarni का साथ |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTdsv7rU3E8 |website=YouTube | date=31 January 2025 |publisher=Amar Ujala Uttar Pradesh |access-date=7 February 2025}}</ref>
She was born in Malti Bai Hospital on 13th Dec 1978 in [[Thane]]. She is the first transgender person to represent [[Asia Pacific]] in the [[UN]] in 2008. At the assembly, she spoke of the plight of sexual minorities. "People should be more human-like. They should respect us as humans and consider our rights as transgenders," she said.<ref name=Freecountry>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/meet/a-free-country-again/article5943957.ece|newspaper=The Hindu Business Line|title=A free country, again|last=Mehra|first=Preeti|date=2014-04-25|access-date=23 December 2015|archive-date=8 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210708103311/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/meet/A-free-country-again/article20759122.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> She was a contestant on the popular reality show ''[[Bigg Boss (Hindi TV series)|Bigg Boss]]'' in 2011. Her efforts helped the first Transgender team scale a Himalayan peak (Friendship peak) in 2020.

==Early life==
Laxmi was the eldest born who was assigned male at birth into an orthodox [[Brahmin]] family in Thane, Maharashtra. After completing her schooling at Smt Sulochanadevi Singhania School Thane, she acquired an arts degree from Mumbai's [[Mithibai College]] and a postgraduate degree in [[Bharatnatyam]].<ref name="dnaindia.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-we-too-are-human-beings-transgender-activist-lakshmi-narayan-tripathi-1982540|title=We too are human beings: Transgender activist Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=27 April 2014|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2017|archive-date=15 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015052638/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-we-too-are-human-beings-transgender-activist-lakshmi-narayan-tripathi-1982540|url-status=live}}</ref> Often being told she was gay and being called "homo", in about grade 5 Laxmi sought out the only gay person she knew, [[Ashok Row Kavi]]. She starred in several [[Ken Ghosh]] dance videos and became a choreographer herself.<ref name=Freecountry />

In a video for Project Bolo she recalls meeting the first PhD trans student in India, Shabira.<ref name="vimeo.com">{{cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/26048919|title=Project Bolo - Laxmi Narayan Tripathi|website=Vimeo|accessdate=14 October 2017|archive-date=11 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911033327/https://vimeo.com/26048919|url-status=live}}</ref> She met the [[Hijra (South Asia)|hijra]] community through Shabira and became a bar dancer soon after. She was famous for having admirers from across the city come to watch her dance. However, this was short-lived as [[Maharashtra]] home minister [[RR Patil]] decided to shut down the city's dance bars. Laxmi organized protests against this move. The dancers lost, but Laxmi got her first taste for activism.<ref name=Freecountry />

==Activism==
Laxmi has served on the boards of several NGOs which conduct LGBT activist work.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_the-third-gender-rises-to-a-social-challenge_1155273 |title=The third gender rises to a social challenge |first=Divyesh |last=Singh |work=dnaindia.com |date=10 March 2008 |accessdate=30 January 2012 |archive-date=5 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105002858/http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_the-third-gender-rises-to-a-social-challenge_1155273 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2002, she became president of the NGO DAI Welfare Society, the first registered and working organization for eunuchs in South Asia. In 2007, she started her own organization, Astitiva.<ref name=Freecountry /> This organization works to promote the welfare of sexual minorities, their support and development.<ref>{{cite web|title=MSMGF GLOBAL DIRECTORY LISTING|url=http://www.msmgf.org/index.cfm/id/230/contactaction/detail/memberOrg_id/299|url-status=dead|accessdate=2014-11-15|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129031916/http://www.msmgf.org/index.cfm/id/230/contactaction/detail/memberOrg_id/299|archivedate=29 November 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Knowing Laxmi Narayan Tripathi- Interviewed by Sandhya Dangwal (12)| date=30 March 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66gj3xdLOds|language=en|access-date=2021-07-08|archive-date=7 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507111506/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66gj3xdLOds|url-status=live}}</ref>

Soon after, she left India for the first time and headed to [[Toronto]], [[Canada]] for an Asia Pacific sex workers network. Her passport stated that she was a "female, transgender, and eunuch".<ref name="vimeo.com"/>

When Kavi started to appeal [[Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code]], which made homosexuality a crime, Laxmi joined his team. During a press conference with the media and [[Zee TV]], she appeared in full makeup and women's clothing. Her parents found out about her association with the ''hijra'' community. It was shocking news to her parents as they were looking into marriage proposals. In an interview with [[BBC]], her father was asked about his thoughts on his child's sexuality he responded, "if my child was handicapped, would you even ask me whether I'd have asked him to leave home? And just because his sexual orientation is different?"<ref name=Freecountry />

In April 2014, Indian Supreme Court recognized transgender rights, officially recognizing them as a [[third gender]], which gave relief to an estimated 3 million people within [[India]].<ref name="ctvnews.ca">{{cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/indias-supreme-court-recognizes-transgender-as-third-gender/|title=India's Supreme Court recognizes 'transgender' as third gender|first=Nirmala|last=George|date=15 April 2014|publisher=|access-date=14 October 2017|archive-date=15 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015045022/http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/india-s-supreme-court-recognizes-transgender-as-third-gender-1.1776333|url-status=live}}</ref> Laxmi along with a legal agency had petitioned the court to recognize [[transgender]] as a third category on all documents. Alongside this recognition, the courts have ordered the government to provide quotas in jobs and education similar to the ones for other minority groups in India.<ref name="dnaindia.com"/> Governments were also ordered by apex courts to construct third washrooms and create health departments to care for transsexual medical needs. They will also be entitled to adopt children and, after sex reassignment surgery, identify with their gender.<ref name="ctvnews.ca"/>

==In popular culture==
Laxmi frequently gives interviews and otherwise represents the [[LGBT|LGBTQIA+]] community in popular media. Laxmi has starred in several TV shows. She was a participant in the Indian television show ''[[Bigg Boss (Hindi season 5)|Bigg Boss 5]]''. She was evicted after six weeks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Television/Pooja-Missra-might-win-Bigg-Boss-5-Laxmi/Article1-768440.aspx |title=Pooja Missra might win Bigg Boss 5: Laxmi - Hindustan Times |first= |last= |work=hindustantimes.com |date=13 November 2011 |accessdate=30 January 2012 |archive-date=18 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118075405/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Television/Pooja-Missra-might-win-Bigg-Boss-5-Laxmi/Article1-768440.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> She also starred in ''[[Sach Ka Samna]]'' with [[Rajeev Khandelval]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tv-/Eunuch-inspires-on-Sach-ka-Saamna/articleshow/4933650.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204141020/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-08-26/tv/28191005_1_sach-ka-saamna-laxmi-narayan-tripathi-truths|url-status=live|archive-date=2013-12-04|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=Eunuch inspires on Sach ka Saamna|date=26 August 2009 }}</ref> [[10 Ka Dum]] with [[Salman Khan]] and ''Raaz Pichle Janam Ka''.

In ''Sach Ka Samna,'' it was the first time India saw a transgender person on TV with their parents. Which allowed for there to be an open conversation about ''hijra''s and the myths surrounding them.<ref name="vimeo.com"/>

Laxmi starred in an award-winning documentary in 2005, ''Between the Lines: India's Third Gender''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0757165/|title=Between the Lines: India's Third Gender|date=31 August 2006|publisher=|accessdate=14 October 2017|via=www.imdb.com|archive-date=9 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209001005/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0757165/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Tripathi is featured in ''Project Bolo'', a documentary series about LGBT Indians that has been released on DVD.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

In 2011 Laxmi starred in ''[[Queens! Destiny Of Dance]]'', an award-winning Bollywood movie about ''hijra''s that garnered rave reviews.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

Laxmi co-wrote her biography, ''Red Lipstick'', with Pooja Pande. The book was published by Penguin in 2016.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Tripāṭhī, Lakshmīnārāyaṇa|title=Red lipstick : the men in my life|date=August 2017|publisher=Penguin Books, Limited |isbn=978-0-14-342593-9|oclc=1049173440}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In ''Bigg Boss'', Tripathi said she had been in a relationship with a man for two years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Laxmi Narayan Tripathi talk about her relationship on Bigg Boss 5|url=http://www.metromasti.com/tv/gossip/Laxmi-Narayan-Tripathi-talk-about-her-relationship-on-Bigg-Boss-5/12250|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005233730/http://www.metromasti.com/tv/gossip/Laxmi-Narayan-Tripathi-talk-about-her-relationship-on-Bigg-Boss-5/12250|archive-date=5 October 2011|website=Metro Masti}}</ref> She is currently engaged to Indian trans man bodybuilder Aryan Pasha.<ref>{{cite web | title=Queer love story of Laxmi Narayan Tripathi and bodybuilder Aryan Pasha | website=Mid-day | date=8 September 2019 | url=https://www.mid-day.com/sunday-mid-day/article/a-queer-love-story-of-laxmi-narayan-tripathi-and-bodybuilder-aryan-pasha-21694708 | access-date=28 July 2024}}</ref> She has adopted two children and lives in Thane.<ref>{{cite web | title=Interview with Laxmi Narayan Tripathi and her mother | website=UNAIDS Asia-Pacific | date=13 February 2015 | url=https://unaids-ap.org/2015/02/13/interview-with-laxmi-narayan-tripathi-and-her-mother/ | access-date=28 July 2024}}</ref>

She told Project Bolo that she got breast augmentation but did not receive any hormone therapy. She told them she got a lot of backlash from the ''hijra'' community for her speaking out and meeting [[Salman Rushdie]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

==Awards==
* Awarded 'Indian of the Year 2017'.<ref>{{cite web|last=Zia|date=26 July 2017|title=Indian of the Year 'A Huge Success'|url=http://www.brandsacademyindia.com/blog/indian-year-huge-success/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728165955/http://www.brandsacademyindia.com/blog/indian-year-huge-success/|archive-date=28 July 2017|website=Brands Academy}}</ref>

==Television==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Shows !! Role !! Channel !! Notes
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Bigg Boss (Hindi season 5)|Bigg Boss 5]]'' || Celebrity Contestant || [[Colors TV]] || Evicted in 6th Week Day 42
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://vimeo.com/26048919 Laxmi's interview on gender and sexuality]

{{Bigg Boss 5}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tripathi, Laxmi Narayan}}
[[Category:Indian LGBTQ entertainers]]
[[Category:Indian LGBTQ rights activists]]
[[Category:Indian transgender actresses]]
[[Category:Hijra (South Asia) people]]
[[Category:Indian transgender rights activists]]
[[Category:Indian transgender politicians]]
[[Category:Transgender women politicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Transgender Hindus]]
[[Category:1979 births]]

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi - Revision history

KrystleZiemba7 at 22:44, 26 April 2026