Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community shout slogans as they take part in a "Siliguri Pride Walk", in Siliguri on Dec 30, 2022. (PHOTO / AFP)
NEW DELHI – A transgender couple are the first in India to become parents biologically, after one of the partners gave birth on Wednesday in Kerala state.
The birth of the baby is a milestone for the South Asian nation, where transgender people continue to face discrimination and stigma despite being officially recognized as a "third gender" since 2014.
Both Ziya Paval, who was born a man, and her partner, Zahad, who was female by birth, were going through hormonal therapy to change their sex when they conceived.
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Zahad gave birth at a government hospital on Wednesday and, along with the newborn, is currently under observation in the hospital's intensive care unit.
"I am so happy. Today is the day I got to hold my baby," Paval told Reuters partner ANI, smiling widely.
The child "had some milk" and is "perfectly fine", with "no problems physically or mentally", she added.
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Zahad is 23 and Paval 21, according to local media. They declined to disclose the gender of the child.