New Delhi, March 27 – The newly introduced Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill elicited mixed reactions from members of the transgender community. While one hailed it as the government's effort to "protect the original TG," another accused the Centre of taking away their "right to self-identification."
The Bill, which has already been passed by both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, and is now awaiting the President's assent, aims to provide legal recognition and protection to transgender individuals.
The country's first transgender Shankaracharya, Hemangi Sakhi Ma, expressed her support for the Bill.
She told reporters, "In my opinion, the government has passed this Bill to protect the original transgenders. The transgender community should not be afraid because this has been done for our safety."
She added, "Many men falsely claim to be transgender and obtain identification documents. People like us are unable to obtain transgender cards or certificates. Therefore, whatever the government has done is beneficial."
However, transgender rights activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi expressed her disapproval of the Bill.
She said, "I was hoping that if the government introduces a new transgender Bill or an amendment in the future, we might gain more rights. However, this government has instead taken away many of our rights. The transgender community already faces numerous challenges."
She accused the government of not considering the welfare of transgender individuals.
"Are they considering our employment? No. Are they considering our education? No. Are they considering our healthcare? No. Also, nobody is considering our social acceptance," she said.
Tripathi added, "This Bill has pushed us back by 20 years. It feels like they (the government) want our existence to disappear. Will we be forced to undergo testing for our identity and gender by a medical officer? Gender is a very personal matter. It is private for everyone. How can someone else decide my gender? Who are you to decide?"
She also alleged that the community was not consulted and their consent was not taken. "Trans women, trans men, non-binary and gender-fluid children – everyone has been excluded," she pointed out.
"We are being deprived of our rights. You cannot take away our fundamental rights. These rights have been granted to us by the Constitution. We will fight until we get our rights back," Tripathi added.
Significantly, the Bill excludes individuals with "self-perceived gender identities" from the definition of "transgender person."