Mizo transvestites draw ire of church leaders after gay order

AIZAWL: Transvestites in Mizoram, who enjoys considerable freedom in society in respect of sartorial choices, are caught in a bind after the powerful local church opposes the Delhi High Court verdict legalizing consensual gay sex.

The transvestites, known locally as Tuais, sport the very latest in female hot couture which till now no one objected, though the church authorities sometimes cast a glare.

But the court verdict has snapped their fine line of tolerance, or so it seems. The leaders of the local Presbyterian Church and some social organizations have said they are seeking ways to invoke the executive order of the colonial British rulers issued in 1909 which criminalized homosexuality.

The order, issued by the superintendent of Lushai hills (now Mizoram), HWG Cole, on April 22, 1909 stipulated, "In future, all Tuais (transvestites), who are clearly of the male sex are to abandon wearing women's clothes and are to live as men and will pay revenue and do cooly (porter) works."

The Cole order further said, ''Village chiefs should report cases of any Tuai whose sex is doubtful for my orders. Chiefs are bound to report all cases of unnatural offences that come to their notice whether of not any complaint has been made to them. Failure to do this will be severely punished.''