Obama encourages transgender activist to find a voice

NEW DELHI: Former US President Barack Obama addressed people at a Town Hall in India’s capital a few days back and answered questions put forth by intrigued leaders.

However, when asked by a transgender activist Dr Akkai Padmashali about how she can raise voice against a discriminatory law that identifies the LGBTQ community as criminals, Obama had the most inspiring of answers to give her.

"When the state terror is against minorities - be it transgender, sexual minority, caste, class, creed, religious - when you have been stigmatized, when you've been discriminated and patriarchal power and domination is against you - I am a criminal before Section 377 which criminalizes transgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual - how do I then raise my voice?”, inquired Padmashali, amidst applause and cheers.

And this is what Obama had to say, “It begins with what you just did, which is to find your voice, and articulate your views, your experiences and tell your story. And that's true of any group that is marginalised, stigmatised."

The 44th US President then went on to add, “Finding that voice and being able to tell a story so that the perceptions that somehow you are different are changed... people start recognizing their own experiences in you, they see your humanity. This is one of the reasons, by the way, why art is often a powerful tool in social change."

Obama was then asked by Padmashali for a hug. People at the Town Hall were amazed and moved at the same time by the thought-provoking question asked by the lady. However, what’s more comforting was the awe-inspiring reply Obama had for her.