Kinnar Akhada Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi addresses a press conference regarding the Transgender Amendment Bill. Pic/PTI
The transgender community staged a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Thursday against the newly-introduced Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, alleging that it violates their rights and dignity
The protesters asserted that the Bill, which has already been passed by both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, and is now awaiting the President’s assent
The protester further added, “This Bill views transgender persons from a criminal perspective. It promotes mistrust and criminalisation and approaches identity from a purely medical viewpoint”
A large number of people from the community gathered to demonstrate against the government, claiming that the Bill undermines the principles of equality and self-identification
Another protester said, “This Bill is snatching away the dignity of transgender persons. It clearly shows that there is no concern for their existence. It suggests that the government will decide whether we exist or not”
Significantly, the Bill omits persons with "self-perceived gender identities" from the definition of "transgender person"
Rajya Sabha passes bill after Lok Sabha nod; Opposition seeks review over Transgender Rights concerns.
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