Transgender community members crowdfund to send group to national capital

As transgender, queer, and gender-diverse community members continue their protests across the country against the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill that was passed by Parliament in a “haste,” a group from Kerala too is in New Delhi to make its voice heard against the “exclusionary” step.

In an indication of how deep and lasting the repercussions of the Act are perceived to be, the LGBTIQ community in Kerala crowdfunded the group’s visit to New Delhi so that they could lobby against the legislation that, they say, robs them of their right to self-identification and their dignity to exist.

The group comprises Ponnu Ima, programme coordinator, Sahayathrika; Harsha P. Harsha, advocacy coordinator of Sahayathrika; Syama S. Prabha, Social Justice department’s Transgender Cell project coordinator; Sherin Antony, member of the Ernakulam Transgender Justice Board; Sanjo Steve, member of the Amigos Trans Collective; and Anand C. Rajappan, secretary of Amigos.

Prijith P.K. of the Queer-Trans-Intersex Rights Joint Action Committee Keralam said community members pitched in with whatever funds they could to meet the group’s travel, food, and other expenses and its advocacy activities.

Ponnu Ima, one of the six who is in New Delhi, said funds contributed by community members were collected at the district level and then transferred to a couple of accounts for meeting their expenses. “We have received contribution from money set aside by community members for needs such as hormone therapy or for chit funds. We even got a contribution of ₹7 with a message of ‘reject trans Bill’,” Ponnu said.

However, they are still far from their target. The money for the group’s return is yet to be raised.

Ponnu said in New Delhi the group members met Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and MPs from the State such as John Brittas to mobilise support for their cause. They were also making themselves heard through protests, gatherings, and advocacy. They met with coordinators of protests against the Act to explore how they could contribute to the national-level protests. On Thursday morning, they participated in a joint protest against the Act at Jantar Mantar, during which Anand C. Rajappan spoke. They also addressed a press meet in the context of the situation in Kerala, at the Press Club in Delhi.

Prijith said that under the umbrella of the joint committee, they would seek that whoever formed the new government in the State should decide against implementing the Act since social justice was included in the Concurrent List.

The commitee plans to organise a legal consultation next week and a one-day convention early next month to create awareness among its members on what steps they plan to take in connection with the Act.

“Community members are in a state of panic. We will conduct mental health assessment for them with the support of psychologists, psychiatrists, and queer affirmative mental health therapists,” Prijith said.