Mumbai: Queer communities and allies across Mumbai gathered at Azad Maidan on Wednesday afternoon to oppose the Transgender Persons Amendment Bill, calling it a retrogressive step. Both Houses of Parliament have passed the bill. According to Yadnya, a transgender woman, the bill “erases” their existence as it has narrowed down the definition of transgender. As per the amendment to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, now a person such as kinner, hijra, aravani, or jogta, and a person with variations at birth in sexual characteristics will be considered as transgender.The amended bill removes self-perceived identities and penalises those who force someone to present as a transgender person with imprisonment between five and 10 years.Advocate Lara Jesani said, “The bill is trying to deter people from their trans identity by bringing in criminal provisions. It appears deterring is more important than criminalising violence against the trans community.” Meghna, a 53-year-old mother of two self-identified transgender, and non-binary kids, said it’s a regressive bill. “As a parent, I am an ally to my children. If the bill comes into force, who knows, one day, they might arrest me for supporting my children. This is the worst part of the amendment.”Health professionals also spoke against the bill and pointed out the difference between sex and gender. Psychiatrist Dr Armaan Pandey said being transgender is the experience of a person whose assigned sex does not match their perceived gender, and therefore, it is not quantifiable. Arijit, who is a 37-year-old transgender man and a mental health professional, said it took him years to come out, and now, according to the amendment, “we do not exist anymore”. Stating that the bill’s provisions could adversely affect transgender people’s mental health, Arijit said, “Studies have shown that gender-affirming care reduces suicides and improves the basic quality of life.”For the queer community, it becomes a question of survival. “Now, if I don’t exist, and the police do not protect me, and I do not have any rights, what happens? What should I do?” asked Arjit.
