Ex-Bengal Chief Minister's Daughter Plans Gender Affirmation Procedure, Blazes Trail
NDTV
A former West Bengal chief minister's daughter has decided to go in for the medical and legal process for gender affirmation after identifying as a man for years. Activists hope this will help other trans men come out.
The decision of a former West Bengal chief minister's daughter to go in for the medical and legal process for gender affirmation after identifying as a man for years has come as a shot in the arm for others in the state who are struggling with issues of gender identity. Suchetana Bhattacharjee, now Suchetan, says he expects maturity from society and activists say they are hoping this will help more trans men come out.
Suchetan, the child of former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who says he has identified as a trans man since he was very young, has started taking legal advice and is consulting with psychiatrists to obtain the necessary certificates to undergo the medical process.
"Just because I am former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's child, it is becoming news. People are so interested, but it is not some juicy piece of news. I was hesitant because of the frenzy it would create because this is a personal issue, and I am not doing it for any publicity but that's what happened unfortunately," he said.
Suchetan said he was conscious of his gender identity in spite of being assigned the female gender at birth and his parents always knew this and were supportive. Now in his 40s, Suchetan identifies openly as a trans man and has been critical of the term sex-change surgery, which has been used in the reportage of his case
