7 Couples Who Proved That Love Knows No Gender

Love is love.

1. Madhuri Sarode and Jay Sharma who met online, and ended up fighting against the odds to get married.

Anu Pattnaik

At the time of their marriage in December 2016, Sarode decided to get her marriage certificate by applying as a transgender woman to set an example. It was only in 2014 that the Supreme Court gave legal recognition to the third gender.

2. Ishan and Surya saw beyond religion and gender and decided to spend the rest of their lives together.

S Mahinsha / Via Twitter: @the_hindu

Ishan, a Muslim trans man, decided to take the plunge into matrimony with Surya, a Hindu trans woman in May, 2018. In an interview with Indian Express, Ishan said, "I was particular that it should be a legal marriage and we want to live a normal life like any other couple." While they were accepted by their families, a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) survey states that 99% of transgender persons in India have faced social rejection in their lives.

3. Trans rights activist, Akkai Padmashali, found the love of her life while working for a better future for other trans folks.

Twitter: @thenewsminute

Padmashali met Vasu when they were working for the same organisation in Bengaluru and got married in 2017 after eight years of being together. Padmashali is part of the mere 6% of trans persons who work in the private sector or at an NGO.

4. Shree Ghatak Muhuri, lived out a real life fantasy by marrying her childhood friend.

indiatimes.com

"Initially, our families were very much opposed to us getting married. They were worried about what people would say. But once I underwent the surgery to be what I had always been, a woman, my in-laws welcomed me with open arms," Shree told India Today. The high school sweethearts aside, 50-60% trans persons in India don't even complete their education due to discrimination faced.

5. An arranged marriage proposal for Megha helped her find her partner for life in Basudeba.

Twitter: @ANI

"People think transgenders can’t get married or embrace motherhood, but I am proving them wrong,” Megha said. Around 57% of trans persons in India don't even get sex reassignment surgeries because they can't afford it.

6. Shadab Hasan and Sanjana from Madhya Pradesh fought the odds to marry with the blessings of their families.

deccanchronicle.com

After nine years of courtship, Shadab's family (who had earlier tried to get him to marry someone else) accepted Sanjana as their daughter-in-law. While their families have their backs, only 2% of trans persons in India live with their parents.

7. And Sreeja and Arun, went against tradition to have their wedding officiated by their friend, a trans woman.

thenewsminute.com

After being refused the chance to marry in a Hindu temple because Sreeja was a trans woman, the couple's friend, Bharani, who's a priest and a trans woman, decided to get them married anyway. According to a BuzzFeed survey from 2017, 49% Indians still think that trans persons are "committing a sin".

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CORRECTION

Nov. 16, 2018, at 17:14 PM

This post previously stated that Aarav Appukuttan and Sukanyeah were married to each other. They have been removed from the list as they eventually chose to not marry each other and parted ways.