India's top court recognized the country's transgender community as a third gender in a landmark judgment and human-rights groups, praising the development, have called on the government to ensure their equal treatment, according to Reuters.
There are hundreds of thousands of transgenders in India, say activists, but because they are not legally recognized, they are ostracized, discriminated against, abused and often forced into prostitution. The court rulingwhich came after hearing a petition filed by a group of transgender individuals demanding equal rightsrecognized the community as a marginalized group and directed authorities to implement policies to improve their socioeconomic status.