Lili Elbeas was a Danish transgender woman who became the first identifiable recipient of sex reassignment surgery when she transitioned in 1930. She eventually died from complications from a uterus transplant in 1931.

Her story dramatized in the film The Danish Girl has always haunted me.

Today, there are many people like Lili across Asia and we need to ensure they are not excluded from the region’s development. Some of the region’s most marginalized and disenfranchised people are those who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).

International Women’s Day is an appropriate time to consider their needs.

At ADB’s first LGBT seminar in December 2016 we heard Philippine Congresswoman Geraldine Roman describe how she overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to become a member of the House of Representatives and the country’s first transgender politician.