There are many reasons to love and be proud of Kochi metro (a dozen, at least). And one of them is the formal employment it has provided to 23 transgender persons who are working there as ground staff.

While employing transgender persons in a mainstream position is a step in the right direction, the question arises - would people accept them there?

The employees in question obviously are aware of living as trans persons in this society; they are all too used to the stares, the second glances and the ridicule their community is regularly subjected to.

But it’s high time this changed, and so, they have a message for the commuters who have eagerly thronged the Kochi metro since it began running.

In a video posted by a Facebook page called Kerala information, members of the transgender community working at the Kochi metro speak to you about how they want to be treated... just like anyone else.

Watch the video here:

"When you look at me, don't look twice," they say.

In the video, these employees of the Kochi metro talk about how they don't want you to ridicule them, but also don't want your pity.

They have hopes and ambitions, just like anyone else.

So why shouldn't they be treated with as much dignity and normalcy as you and me?