Two years ago, Sahad (23) and Ziya Paval (21), a transgender couple living in Kozhikode, started their gender transition process. But early last year, Sahad paused the journey to become a trans-man midway, to first becoming a parent.
Sahad is eight months pregnant now and plans to continue the gender transition process after delivery.
“When we started to live together three years ago, we thought our lives should be different from other transgenders. Most transgender couples are boycotted by society as well as their families. We wanted a baby, so that we leave behind something of ourselves even after our days in this world are numbered,’’ said Paval, a classical dance teacher.
“Our journey to become a trans man and trans woman will continue. I am still continuing the hormone treatment to become a trans woman. Six months or a year after delivery, Sahad will also resume the treatment to become a trans man,’’ said Paval.
Sahad and Paval have been living together as a transgender couple for the last three years. While Paval is from Kozhikode, Sahad, who worked as an accountant before going on maternity leave, is from Thiruvananthapuram. Both left their families after realising their transgender identity, reads the report.
Since then, they have undergone hormone therapy as part of the gender transition process. Paval said they took the decision to have a child after giving it much thought.
“Sahad had already removed both breasts and both of us had been going ahead with hormone treatment. In our longing to have a baby, we paused the process,’’ said Paval.
Paval said they got support from doctors at the Government Medical College Hospital in Kozhikode, where Sahad is set to deliver their child next month. “Doctors have told us not to reveal more about the insemination process. Since Sahad has removed both breasts, we hope to feed the baby from the breast milk bank at the medical college,’’ said Paval.
Meanwhile, amid their ongoing journey to change their genders, Sahad and Paval are now looking forward to a new journey – as parents,
