A thousand people attended this transgender wedding in India

• This is the first time a transsexual couple tied the knot, legally, in the Southern Indian State of Kerala.
  
• The couple tied the knot on Thursday under the country’s Special Marriages Act passed in 2014.
  
• Kerala was the first to draw up a transgender policy in 2015.

Weddings are always a happy occasion but Ishan and Surya’s wedding was particularly special because it marked the first time a transsexual couple tied the knot, legally, in the Southern Indian State of Kerala.

Surya, 31, decked in a bright red saree, tied the knot with Ishan, 34 on Thursday under the country’s Special Marriages Act. This first-of-its-kind wedding was celebrated with much fanfare and was attended by many dignitaries, including some influential politicians.

P Rani, a transgender activist, told the Hindustan Times, “Some years ago, we couldn’t have imagined such a function in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram.” She added, “Things are slowly changing and we have started getting some acceptance in the society. We hope this marriage will set the ball rolling.”

In 2014, Surya, the bride, underwent sex change surgery and became a woman after which her family ousted her. Her husband, Ishan, being a Muslim, met with a similar, if not worse fate, when he underwent sex change surgery in 2015 to become a man. However, both families accepted their decision and were a part of the wedding celebrations that had over 1000 guests.

The couple met each other while working at an NGO for the welfare of transsexuals. Ishan is a businessman and Surya is a well-known Malayalam TV artiste and activist. Both the bride and groom are members of the government-appointed transgender justice board.

“It is just the beginning. We will be a role model for others. We will show the world trans-sexual people can also lead a decent life like others. Society’s attitude is slowly changing,” the bride told the Hindustan Times.

After the Indian Supreme Court decided to recognise "Third Gender" in 2014, the state of Kerala was the first to draw up a transgender policy, in 2015. This policy is aimed at upholding the transgender community's freedom from discrimination and right to equality.