Transgender activists in Thiruvananthapuram held a protest march on Thursday to the Fire magazine office at Kumarapuram, objecting to a derogatory article about the community.

The article was published by the magazine under the title ‘Male prostitutes of Kochi’.

They were also unhappy with photographs of a few transgender community members that were taken without permission.

The protestors burnt a few magazines in front of the office.

Transgender activist and TV artiste Surya filed a police complaint against the magazine.

The activists said that while most of them are earning a living by doing TV comedy programs, modelling, taking dance classes and other self-employment, such a headline and use of derogatory content with pictures would harm their dignity.

“Who shall bear responsibility for the sorrows faced by the families of our friends, when such muddy write-ups quoting the surging sex racket in Kochi and immigration of TGs from neighboring states? We Ought to Protest!” LGBT rights activist Jijo Kuriakose said.

The article was published in the 412th edition of the publication that hit the stands on Monday. It used many pictures of transgender persons including Surya’s, without their knowledge.

In a press meet conducted in Thiruvananthapuram, Surya said the article harmed her dignity. She said already people in the society and family are reluctant to accept her and now things are even worse.