Veena S

Veena S. is a Dalit transwoman who was one of the first transgender people in southern India to contest an election.
2010 election background
Veena S. is a Dalit transwoman who was one of the first transgender people in southern India to contest an election. She ran for the position of a municipal councillor in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palika (Bangalore City Municipality) in March-April 2010, as an independent candidate at the age of 32. She ran for office at Okalipuram Ward (Ward No:96). Veena S has been the Vice-president of Karnataka Sex Workers Union and Treasurer of Samara, a sexual minority non-profit organization. She is a member of Dalit Mahila Horata Koota and is the President of an Anekal-based group called Sanchaya Nele that works with Dalit women.She has been fighting for many years for or the rights of Dalits, marginalized, sexual minorities and sex workers.
Veena ran into trouble when she tried to procure her caste certificate which is required to file the nomination in the Okalipuram ward. The ward is reserved for Dalit women. The problem arose when she had to fill in the 'gender' column. At the time, in 2010, only two gender options were available. Veena could not select either one of the responses and the officials refused to give her the caste certificate. It was only after her union advocated for her that she was able to get her caste certificate, and file her nomination.

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