Aarav Appukuttan和Sukanyeah Krishna彼此相愛，這對跨性別情侶─Appukutan以女生的性別出生，而Krishna則是以男生的性別出生─三年前於孟買一家醫院等待由印度財務資金支付的性別重置手術時，在一位醫生的診間相識。以共同擁護並為性別認同奮鬥的熱情為基礎，兩人迅速展開了戀愛，並且決定結婚。

他們計劃結婚和後來提出領養小孩的新聞成為世界各地的頭條，然而他們因為國際間團結一致而產生的喜悅，卻因為在社交媒體上收到死亡威脅而染上了一絲焦慮。向警方投訴後，這對情侶試著繼續他們的倡議行動，同時也透過群眾募資募集手術的援助，卻得到更多的負評和騷擾。這些言論透過各種不同的管道出現，包含禁止暴力威脅和仇恨言論的臉書，然而該公司卻沒有隨時將這類留言刪除。

於是這對情侶決定取消群眾募資活動。Sukanyeah在臉書寫下關於死亡威脅的貼文：

I'm sharing a screenshot of a video Published in ScoopWhoop News. Below that video there is a comment published by a person named “Mayank”, and he is calling out to “Kill us Both.” Certainly! It's from a Fake Profile.

Now my reply to Mayank:
Man, we both might be ‘Gays’ for your eyes! But we've shown enough guts to come out in the public and reveal who we are, what we are planning… Do you have enough guts to use your own name and picture in a facebook profile and make such a comment? If you have enough “Mardangi” (manhood), do that! We're waiting…

I know there many psychos and phobics out there in the middle, but why are you targeting us? Just because, we live a REAL Life? without hiding ourselves? We too have the same rights to live in this world, as you all are having… We aren't disturbing anyone else. In fact, we've to fight a lot to survive itself. We don't enjoy any privileges to make it easier So Please… Live and Let live!

我分享的是發佈於ScoopWhoop News中一支影片的螢幕截圖，影片下方有個名為Mayank所發佈的評論，他嚷嚷著要「殺了我們兩個」。不用懷疑！這是用假帳號發的。

那麼我給Mayank的回覆是：

先生，我們兩個也許在你眼裡也許都是「同志」！但我們有足夠的勇氣在眾人面前出櫃，揭示我們是誰，以及我們的計畫…那你有足夠的勇氣在臉書上使用你自己的名字和照片發表這樣的言論嗎？如果你夠有「男子氣概」（Mardangi），就試試看吧！我們等著…

我知道還有很多精神疾病及恐懼症患者處於困境，但是為什麼我們要被針對？就只是因為我們過著真實的人生嗎？因為我們沒有隱藏自己？我們也有一樣的權利在這個世界生存，就像你們也有…我們並沒有妨礙到任何人。事實上，我們必須賣力奮鬥才得以生存，也沒有享受任何特權來讓自己好過一些，所以拜託…你過你的人生，也放過我們吧！

2014年，印度最高法院宣佈跨性別者為「第三性別」，這是一個保護他們能受教育和工作的裁決，否則，污名化的現象會一直存在，跨性別者仍會是經常被騷擾或攻擊的對象，或者為了生存甚至被迫乞討或賣淫。根據Swasti健康研究中心（Swasti Health Resource Centre）所做的2,169位跨性別者的調查，在印度，十位跨性別者裡就有四位在青春期前遭受過性虐待。

這個事實使得像是Aarav和Sukanyeah的人們反擊。全球之聲在電話中與這對情侶對談，以下是簡短的紀錄：

全球之聲：你們在社交媒體上收到死亡威脅，這對你們造成了什麼影響？

Sukanyeah: We've received varied responses from people. While some are super appreciative others have issued threats saying, “Kill the LGBT dogs” on Facebook. I don't now why we are being targeted but it's very similar to the transphobia and homophobia that triggered the Orlando massacre [in the United States in 2016]. People think we are outcasts or aliens but we are not the ones creating problems. We just keep to ourselves and still face attacks. They don't know anything about us, gender identity disorder yet they read headlines and abuse us. It hurts us and demeans our struggle to a greater extent.

In fact, now, we are even scared to publish our wedding dates and our security will get compromised. We are poor and we don't know how to handle goons if they threaten us so our best chance is to get a private wedding ceremony done.

This negative feedback is forcing us to hide. It takes a lot of courage to come out in the first place and accept your identity.

Sukanyeah：我們得到人們各式各樣的回應，在臉書上有些人非常讚賞我們，有些人則發佈了威脅的字眼「殺了LGBT傢伙」。我不曉得為什麼我們成了他們的目標，但這很像跨性別恐懼症和同志恐懼症引發的奧蘭多同性戀夜店槍擊案（Orlando massacre，2016年發生於美國）。人們認為我們是被拋棄的人或者外星人，但我們並沒有製造出什麼問題，只不過是忠於自己，卻還是會遭受攻擊。那些人一點也不了解我們，只讀了新聞頭條寫著性別認同障礙就辱罵我們，這對我們造成傷害，且更加踐踏了我們的努力。

事實上，現在我們甚至害怕公布結婚的日期，安全也會受到威脅。我們沒什麼錢財，如果遇到暴徒威脅也不曉得要怎麼處理，所以最希望的是辦場非公開的結婚典禮。

負面的回應迫使我們隱藏自己，一開始要出櫃並認同自己需要很大的勇氣。

Aarav: We have filed complaints against a few accounts on social media for issuing death threats against us. Most of them are fake and based out of Kerala. We try and be as polite as possible in our responses but sometimes, it's just hard to be kinder when they want to end our lives and it is disturbing.

Aarav：我們已經向社交媒體上幾個對我們發出死亡威脅的帳號提出控訴了，大部份都是假帳號，而且都不是在喀拉拉邦（Kerala）發的。我們試著盡可能在回應時保持禮貌，但是當他們想要致我們於死地且令人不安的時候，真的很難保持親切。

全球之聲：那麼那些正面的回應呢？

Aarav: : We are happy, we have received a positive response from everyone across the world except some miscreants locally. We are happy people are trying to understand our situation and it gives out a bigger and much significant message of acceptance of the gender-identity disorders.

Aarav：除了一些地方上的惡徒之外，我們很開心收到了每個世界各地來的正面回應。很高興人們正試著了解我們的狀況，對於接受性別認同障礙，這是個更大更重要的訊息。

全球之聲：婚禮計畫是什麼呢？有預料到任何法律上的麻煩事嗎？

Aarav: We don't expect any legal hassles from our marriage under India's article 377 as we both are legally male and female now. Officially, we have received our government documents as well and are waiting for more documents before we can solemnize our marriage.

Aarav：因為我們現在都是法律認可的男性與女性，所以在印度法令第337條的規定下（譯註：該條將同性性行為視為違反自然），我們並不認為這個婚姻會有任何法律上的麻煩事。我們已經正式收到政府的公文，也在等其他更多的文件，之後就可以隆重舉行婚禮了。

全球之聲：你們是如何相遇的？

Aarav: We met three years ago outside at a doctors clinic where Sukanyeah had come for her treatment. I heard her talking in Malayalam and that's how we started talking. My family is supportive of our union.

Aarav：我們三年前在一位醫生的診間外面相遇，Sukanyeah為了治療而來，我聽到她用馬來亞拉姆語（Malayalam）說話，這就是我們開始交談的原因。我的家人也贊成我們交往。

全球之聲：未來的計畫是什麼？

Aarav: We want to start a non-governmental organization for members of the transgender community and want to create awareness among parents. They should not ignore their children dealing with gender dysphoria or gender identity disorder. They should instead support them and we hope we can set some example. We are hopeful parents will reach out to us and seek our counseling.

Aarav：我們想要為跨性別群體建立一個非政府組織，並在父母親之間建立一些概念。他們不應該忽視面臨性別不安症或性別認同障礙的孩子，反而應該協助他們。也希望可以樹立一些榜樣，希望那些父母會伸手向我們尋求建議。

Sukanyeah: My family disowned me when I was young and let me down because I was a transgender. I faced many troubles and left home at 18 to work in Bangalore and save money for my surgeries. I worked in call centers, worked as a freelance in Information Technology sector and started my hormonal treatment to transition into a woman. That's when my relationship with Aarav blossomed and I don't think seeking support from my family will yield anything positive. I was heartbroken at their rejection but now plan to focus all my energies on starting a non-governmental organization by December to aid other trans individuals.

Sukanyeah：因為我是跨型別者，家人在我年輕時與我斷絕關係，這讓我很失望。十八歲時遇到很多困難，離開了家，到班加羅爾工作，為了我的手術存錢。我工作的地方在客服中心，是資訊科技部門的自由職業者，這期間開始了轉變成女性的賀爾蒙治療，也是這時候發展與Aarav的戀情。我不認為尋求家人對這件事的支持會得到任何正面回應，他們的絕情早就讓我心碎，而我現在打算全神貫注在十二月前建立非政府組織，幫助其他跨性別者。

全球之聲：你會如何為你目前的人生經歷做總結？

Aarav: After 45 years of hiding behind a woman's mask, I am finally free to live my life as a man and don't take those seriously who want to insult or mock me. Also, I would want to advise those opting for surgeries to go to a renowned doctor instead of falling for botched surgeries which are more dangerous.

Aarav：藏在女人的面具下四十五年，終於能夠自由地以男人的姿態活著，不再認真看待那些想羞辱或嘲笑我的人。同時，我也想建議那些面臨手術抉擇的人，去找有聲譽的醫生，別相信更危險的拙劣手術。

全球之聲：打算組成一個家庭嗎？

Both Aarav and Sukanyeah: We want a child to complete our family and inspire us to do good for the world and I am sure we will make wonderful parents.

Aarav及Sukanyeah：我們想要一個孩子使家庭更完整，並激勵我們為世界做點有益的事，我確信我們一定會是極棒的父母。

全球之聲使用反歧視同志聯盟媒體參考指南（GLAAD Media Reference Guide）以確保我們對跨性別者做出的是尊重他們的報導且內容屬實。我們也鼓勵想要分享或評論這個故事的人這麼做。