250 transpersons from across State oppose Transgender Persons Bill

HYDERABAD: Joining hands with members of the transgender community across the country, opposing the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 around 250 transpersons from across Telangana gathered at Sundarayya Vignana Park on Sunday.

The community members have long opposed the Bill which was tabled in the Lok Sabha in August 2016 and which will be introduced once again in the winter session of the Parliament. Members will also be gathering in huge numbers seeking changes in the Bill in New Delhi on December 17. “Around 500 of us will be joining the maha dharna from Telangana,” said Chandramukhi Muvvala from the Telangana Hijra Samithi.  

The members in an open discussion stated that, though the Bill says ‘Protection of Rights’, a number of clauses in it are not in their favour and will only make living in the country worse. “First, identity of transgenders is defined as partly male or female, a combination or as neither male of female. Then there are no reservations for us and at the same time, those who beg will be punished,” said Muvvala. This will add on to the stigma that is attached to the community, she further said.

Besides this, the Bill also mandates that the transpersons to be screened by the district screening committee which comprises a medical officer, a psychiartrist, a social worker and one member from the community. “Standing naked in front of a group of people to prove our identity is nothing but an insult,” Muvvala added. The protest also saw members from the rest of the queer communities, who came to support the transpersons.

“This is like an open threat to all the members in the community and we are here in solidarity with the transpersons,” said Anil Kohli from Queer Campus Hyderabad. This was followed by a meeting for the Queer Pride which will be held in the city early next year.