Transgender Community Protests Amendment Bill At Jantar Mantar; Flags Rights Concerns

A significant number of transgender individuals assembled at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to voice their opposition to the newly introduced Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill.

Protesters expressed concern that the proposed law compromises their basic rights and challenges their ability to self-identify.

Participants emphasised that the Bill, which has already received approval from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and is pending the President’s assent, could erode protections previously granted to the community. Many argued that it departs from earlier legal assurances.

Protesters referred to the Supreme Court’s landmark NALSA verdict, which formally recognised transgender persons as a distinct gender and upheld their constitutional rights. They also mentioned the 2019 legislation that permitted individuals to define their own gender identity, stating that the amendment undermines these provisions.

One participant noted that the Bill restricts freedom of expression and frames transgender identity within a rigid, medical framework rather than acknowledging personal autonomy.

Protesters further claimed that the legislation fosters suspicion and indirectly criminalises the transgender community. They warned that the revised definition excludes those who identify based on personal perception of gender.

Another protester argued that the Bill diminishes the dignity of transgender persons and implies that official authorities will determine their identity.

The protesting groups urged the government to withdraw the Bill, criticising the absence of meaningful consultation with the community during its drafting. They also called for the strict implementation of the NALSA judgment to safeguard their rights.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill shortly after the Lok Sabha cleared it. Opposition members demanded that authorities refer it to a select committee for detailed review, warning that several provisions could harm the rights and dignity of transgender individuals.