Chennai, Sep 2 - In an attempt to change the majority view towards transgenders and also integrate the latter into the mainstream, a city-based non governmental agency will be holding a beauty pageant for transgenders here in December.

'Transgenders are viewed as sex objects and are ridiculed. We want to change this perception,' A.J. Hariharan, founder secretary of the Indian Community Welfare Organisation (ICWO) told IANS.

As per plans, around 150 transgenders from across the country are expected to contest for the Miss India Transgender title. There will be contests for Miss Beautiful Eyes, Miss Beautiful Hair and Miss Beautiful Skin.

'We expect around 2,000 people to witness the show of which 500-1,000 will be transgenders. Through press and other media we hope to reach out to one crore people,' he said.

ICWO is holding talks with NGOs and other AIDS control organisations to share the cost burden of the first such event in the country.

Queried about the germination of the beauty contest idea for transgenders, he said: 'We were discussing various contests like cookery, music, song and dance and the like. Then it struck us to hold a beauty contest.'

The judges panel will be equally divided amongst transgenders and famous personalities.

Does not a beauty contest for transgenders with costs being shared by AIDS control societies mean stereotyping of this community as sexual objects with high AIDS risk?

Explaining his point of view, Hariharan said: 'The AIDS control societies and NGOs working for the welfare of transgenders have an existing infrastructure.