Ad sparks transgender debate in India
Print Edition
A television commercial that tells the real-life story of a transgender woman and her adopted daughter has sparked a conversation about transgender rights in India, where the community still faces deep biases despite gaining rights.
The advertisement for Procter & Gamble’s Vicks brand is narrated by Gayatri, who was adopted as a young girl after the death of her birth mother, a sex worker.
The 3.5 minute commercial has racked up more than 9 million views on YouTube since its release two weeks ago. As Gayatri, 15, tells the story of how she came to live with “mummy,” who cooks her favorite foods and watches horror films with her, her mother is revealed to be a transgender woman.
“Mom has faced so many problems in life,” Gayatri says. “Everyone is entitled to basic rights. Then why is my mom denied them? That’s why ... I will become a lawyer. For my mom.”
In a landmark judgment in 2014, India’s Supreme Court ruled that transgender people had equal rights under the law and granted legal status to the third gender.
Transgender women, known as hijras, have long been considered auspicious in India. They feature in Hindu mythology, and their blessings are sought at weddings and births. But most of the country’s 2 million transgender people face discrimination.
Sawant, a social worker, said, “We have more rights, but people still view us differently. We just want to be educated, go to work and be able to raise children, like everyone else.”
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