Growing recognition of transgender health
WHO Bulletin - "Stigma, discrimination and lack of legal recognition remain major barriers for transgender people to access the health services they need. Vijay Shankar Balakrishnan reports.
Olga Aaron was registered male at birth, but always felt that she was a woman. Following a mental health assessment and with the support of her family, at 18 years Aaron underwent surgery and hormone therapy (and a name change) to become a woman.
Two decades later, Aaron is campaigning for the social acceptance and recognition of transgender women, like herself, and to raise awareness about their specific health issues in India.
“Transgender women are marginalized and denied basic human rights,” says Aaron, who lives in the city of Chennai.