<p>Transgender activist Akkai Padmashali is all set to join the Congress on Sunday.</p>.<p>The award-winning activist has been the face of the transgender movement in Karnataka for at least over a decade now, while her work is not limited to the state.</p>.<p>Speaking to DH, Akkai said her decision to join the Congress came from an urge to defend the Indian democratic space.</p>.<p>"There is so much intolerance in the country. There's a threat to the Constitution. Like-minded people need to converge to protect the Constitution. Congress has played a vital role in bringing people's issues to the forefront. This move is about my ideologies aligning with the core principles of the party," she said.</p>.<p>The other important aspect was to ensure that there was no compromise to the sexual minorities' movement, she said.</p>.<p>"It has been a long-drawn struggle. There have been several judgments to ensure the rights of the community, but implementing them is important. Political parties are otherwise preoccupied with other agendas," she added.</p>.<p>In 2015, Akkai became the first transgender person to be conferred with the Karnataka Rajyotsava — the second-highest civilian honor in the state.</p>.<p>In 2018, Akkai became the first transgender person to get her marriage registered. Her role as a political leader will not be limited to the transgender space, she said. "Me being part of the sexual minorities will not talk only about those issues. I will definitely talk about various other burning issues,” she said.</p>.<p>“There are concerns about the economy, youth employment, silencing of dissent, and environmental justice. It is about standing up for the poor and the marginalised," she added.</p>
<p>Transgender activist Akkai Padmashali is all set to join the Congress on Sunday.</p>.<p>The award-winning activist has been the face of the transgender movement in Karnataka for at least over a decade now, while her work is not limited to the state.</p>.<p>Speaking to DH, Akkai said her decision to join the Congress came from an urge to defend the Indian democratic space.</p>.<p>"There is so much intolerance in the country. There's a threat to the Constitution. Like-minded people need to converge to protect the Constitution. Congress has played a vital role in bringing people's issues to the forefront. This move is about my ideologies aligning with the core principles of the party," she said.</p>.<p>The other important aspect was to ensure that there was no compromise to the sexual minorities' movement, she said.</p>.<p>"It has been a long-drawn struggle. There have been several judgments to ensure the rights of the community, but implementing them is important. Political parties are otherwise preoccupied with other agendas," she added.</p>.<p>In 2015, Akkai became the first transgender person to be conferred with the Karnataka Rajyotsava — the second-highest civilian honor in the state.</p>.<p>In 2018, Akkai became the first transgender person to get her marriage registered. Her role as a political leader will not be limited to the transgender space, she said. "Me being part of the sexual minorities will not talk only about those issues. I will definitely talk about various other burning issues,” she said.</p>.<p>“There are concerns about the economy, youth employment, silencing of dissent, and environmental justice. It is about standing up for the poor and the marginalised," she added.</p>
