First Asian transgender activist invited to US programme

CHENNAI - City-based Kalki Subramanian has become the first Asian transgender activist to be invited to take part in the International Visitors’ Leadership Programme (IVLP) to be held in the US next month.

A double post-graduate degree holder Kalki is the founder and director of the Sahodari Foundation that works for social and economic empowerment of transgenders.

“Last December I was told that my name was recommended as one of the people from India to be invited under the IVLP. And last month I came to know about the final selection,” Kalki said.

Kalki will study how the US government is helping the minorities there.

“I will also tell people there about my activities for the uplift of transgenders here,” Kalki added.

Kalki will leave for the US Oct 1 and stay for nearly three weeks in Washington, Salt Lake City and New York.

Kalki expressed joy at being invited for the event which has been earlier attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former prime ministers AB Vajpayee and the late Indira Gandhi in their younger days.