Govt Initiates Investigation In Kerala Transgender Activist's Suicide Case

In the Kerala transgender activist's suicide case from six months back, the state government on Monday, January 24, decided to set up an investigation. The death reason was alleged to be complications after sex reassignment surgery at a private hospital.

The Government has asked the health additional director to investigate the 28-year Kerala transgender activist's suicide case and submit a report on the same in a month. The activist, Anannyah Kumari Alex was a celebrity make-up artist, stage anchor, radio jockey and was also the first member of her community to file a nomination in Kerala Assembly elections.

All About Kerala Transgender Activist's Suicide Case

As per reports, the activist's friends said that she underwent a sex reassignment surgery in a private hospital in 2020 which led to complications and this is considered as a reason of her suicide. She hanged herself to death in July, 2021 and three days after her death, her male friend also died by suicide in Kochi.

The private hospital in Ernakulam is being accused in Kerala transgender activist's suicide case as the activist herself posted on social media about the discomfort and pain she felt after her surgery. Although the Government has provided health facilities like hormonal treatments and sex alignment surgeries for the community but there is still lack of proper implementation and procedure.

Transgender activist demanded inquiry in the suicide case along with professional surgeon and counselors to provide safe health facilities to the LGBTQ community. Syama S Prabha, member of transgender justice board has also issued a statement in the case and said, "There is no uniform protocol in sex reassignment surgeries and LGBTQ community members often end up in traps set up by private hospitals. We need ethical committees to end this exploitation. We need a proper protocol, standard and treatment methodology".

The Kerala government has taken many steps for the transgender community like setting up transgender justice board in 2017, separate washrooms, hostels in Kochi and jobs in Kochi metro and was also the first state to formulate a transgender policy in 2015.

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