KOLKATA GARIMA GREH MEETING
The word “transgender” – or trans – is an
umbrella term for people whose gender identity is different from the sex
assigned to us at birth. Although the word “transgender” and our modern
definition of it only came into use in the late 20th century, people who would
fit under this definition have existed in every culture throughout recorded
history. The
trans community is incredibly diverse. Some trans people identify as trans men
or trans women, while others may describe themselves as non-binary, gender queer,
gender non-conforming, agender, bigender or other identities that reflect their
personal experience. Some of us take hormones or have surgery as part of our
transition, while others may change our pronouns or appearance.
In 2014, the Indian Supreme Court NALSA v. India ruled that transgender people should be recognized as a third gender and enjoy all fundamental rights, while also being entitled to specific benefits in education and employment. Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan, writing for the bench, ordered that “Transgender persons’ right to decide their self-identified gender” should be recognized by state and federal authorities. The court made clear that “any insistence for [sex reassignment surgery] for declaring one’s gender is immoral and illegal.”
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 (‘Transgender Persons Act’) seeks to recognise the identity of transgender persons and prohibit discrimination in, inter alia, the fields of education, employment, healthcare, holding or disposing of property, holding public or private office and access to and use of public services and benefits.