In states like Kerala, discrimination against transgenders has been so high that most prefer to migrate to neighbouring states. Sheethal Shyam, 33, Kerala state-level secretary, Sexual Minority Forum, says, “The awareness is very low here, so is visibility and there has been little gender or sexuality discussion in the public arena. Transgenders have been looked down upon and little has been done to treat us with dignity and equality.” In November 2015, Kerala passed the State Policy for Transgenders in Kerala. Though it has emboldened more to come out as transgenders, police and people need to be sensitised. In July, six transgenders who had gone to lodge a complaint at the police station and five trans people who accompanied them were all locked up. Later that same evening, when two trans women, Poorna and Ayesha, went out for dinner, they were accosted by the police. They were asked why they were dressed as females if they had a penis. “They explained that they had had their SRS, but the policemen beat, poked and prodded them. Then, the 10 policemen stripped them and checked their gender. What right do the police have to check the gender of a person?” asks Shyam. In contrast, Tamil Nadu, which set up a Transgender Welfare Board in 2008, has been working toward their upliftment. Their government hospitals offer free SRS surgeries and many welfare schemes have been initiated for the community.