India Welcomes Its First Transgender News Anchor

India Welcomes Its First Transgender News Anchor

India's first transgender news anchor is already a star.

Lotus News, a news station based out of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, first featured Padmini Prakash on the air less than a month ago and she has already been promoted to anchor the 7 p.m. nightly broadcast.

Padmini Prakash, India's first transgender TV News anchor. The 34 year old presents a prime time show on Lotus News. pic.twitter.com/gf3gUkANT6

— Ashar Jawad (@AsharJawad) September 21, 2014

"We are supportive of Padmini because she is very hard-working," Lotus News Channel chairman GKS Selvakumar told the Times Of India. "After initial trials, we were convinced that she had the potential to be an excellent news anchor."

While the new anchor has been vocal about the discrimination she's faced, which included being disowned by her own family, she continues to receive approbation for her journalistic capabilities.

"Padmini now anchors better than many others. We get very good feedback from viewers," an official at the news channel told India TV News. "Offices of companies do not encourage transgenders. We want to change that and motivate them. We would give [an] opportunity for many other qualified transgenders too."

In April, India legalized a third gender, granting the estimated 3 million transgender Indians with the option to identify as something other than male or female.

Bravo, India!

Watch the video above to hear her speak about her recent success.

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