Lok Sabha elections: Chinchu Aswathi first intersex person to contest

KOCHI: Aswathi Rajappan alias

Chinchu Aswathi

, a

queer

activist, has become the first

intersex

person to contest Lok Sabha polls. Aswathi filed the nomination from

Ernakulam

constituency on Thursday.


The term “intersex” refers to people born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male. Aswathi came out as an intersex individual in 2016. A leading activist for the causes of LGBQTI community in the state, Aswathi currently works for an NGO in Bengaluru.

An MSc dropout, Aswathi is contesting as an independent candidate but has the support of People’s Political Platform (PPP), a party formed to preserve values of liberty, socialism and democracy. In a Facebook post, Aswathi said the issues of LGBTQI community would be highlighted during the poll campaign. Aswathi expects their support in the polls.