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# Indian woman attempts suicide after transphobic harassment
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/indian-woman-attempts-suicide-after-transphobic-harassment/
- Published: 2020-10-20T11:45:21.000Z
- Updated: 2020-10-20T14:26:34.000Z
- Description: Sajana Shaji, a trans woman living in Kochi, Kerala, attempted suicide after claiming to have been harassed and verbally assaulted while working as a food salesperson.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, LGBTQ, LGBTQ India, Trans Rights, Transgender

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/sajna-shaji-1.jpg)

Shaji posted videos online explaining her experience

**Sajana Shaji**, a trans woman living in **Kochi, Kerala**, attempted suicide after claiming to have been harassed and verbally assaulted while working as a food salesperson. According to the **[New Indian Express](https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2020/oct/19/youth-congress-sells-2000-food-packets-to-aid-transwoman-2212021.html?ref=scenemag.co.uk)**, Shaji was harassed by a vendor while selling biryani and subsequently posted a video to social media about her bad experiences. Although she received support from many, some continued to harass her online and make transphobic comments which led to her suicide attempt.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/transgender-rights-pakistan-rally-getty-1-1.jpg)

A transgender rights rally in Pakistan

She [reportedly](https://www.indiaglitz.com/kerala-transgender-sajana-shaji-attempts-suicide--malayalam-news-272209?ref=scenemag.co.uk) overdosed after sharing another video explaining the abuse had pushed her to commit the act, but was found by friends and hospitalised. She is now undergoing private treatment at a hospital in Ernakulam. The incident comes shortly after LGBTQ+ rights group **[Queerala](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/indias-nationalist-congress-party-creates-lgbtq-cell/)** – based in Kerala – urged the Indian government to do more to protect the country’s queer community, including banning conversion therapy.

LGBTQ+ issues such as transphobia are not commonly acknowledged among Indian politicians; **[News 18](https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/offbeat/finally-ncp-becomes-first-political-party-in-india-to-get-an-lgbt-cell-twitter-rejoices/ar-BB19IzbQ?ref=scenemag.co.uk)** reported out of 543 MPs in India, only 151 have ever spoken about LGBTQ+ issues throughout their careers. However, the **Nationalist Congress Party** recently became the first to set up a dedicated [LGBTQ+ unit](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/indias-nationalist-congress-party-creates-lgbtq-cell/) to try and combat the problem.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pakistan-transgender-400-600.jpg)