This Pride Month, let’s count the wins for queer and trans rights

Source- The post is based on the article “This Pride Month, let’s count the wins for queer and trans rights” published in “The Indian Express” on 8thJune 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Vulnerable sections of the population

Relevance- Issues related to LGBT

News- Pride Month is here again. The country is waiting for the Supreme Court’s verdict on the marriage equality case.

What are steps taken by state organs for the upliftment of trangender community?

SC expanded the definition of women in the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act to include transgender persons. They are now legally entitled to avail of abortion services.

The apex court also took several measures to make the judicial system queer-inclusive. It expanded its Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee to include queer non-binary lawyers.

It came out with a module for sensitisation of the judiciary on the LGBTQIA+ community. It has taken other small steps, like creating universal restrooms in the court complex.

The Government of India expanded the ambit of Ayushman Bharat. It included transgender persons through the TG Plus card which entitles them to health. There has also been progress in making medical curricula queer-inclusive.

There was good news related to political representation of transgender persons. Bobi Kinnar became Delhi’s first transgender municipal councillor.

Sonu Kinnar, another transgender person, also made history by becoming president of Nagar Palika Panchayat of Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh.

What are the issues still faced by transgender community?

The NALSA judgement paved the way for the legal recognition of transgender persons. The Transgender Persons Act insisted on medical interventions to change gender. But in India, laws are often not implemented on the ground.

Transgender people often face difficulty in accessing public spaces. The Karnataka government’s recent decision to allow transgender people free bus travel was much needed. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment started the SMILE scheme for transgender people and set up a few shelter homes called Garima Grehs. It is facing flak for restricting funding to the existing shelters.

The Transgender Persons Act has many provisions that are yet to be realised though the rules. Examples are making transgender welfare boards, transgender protection cells, etc.

What is the way forward for upliftment of transgender community in India?

There is a need to be cognisant of the pending demands of the community. There is still no central law banning unscientific, inhuman, and traumatising conversion therapy in India. There is no regulation of sex-normalising surgeries for intersex children.

The long pending demand of the transgender community for horizontal reservations needs sincere deliberations and actions.