Trans groups, social orgs protest Centre’s new trans bill

Dehradun: Several transgender groups, along with social organisations and activists, have voiced strong opposition to the proposed Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, tabled in the Lok Sabha on March 13 and is expected to be taken up in Parliament on Monday. They gathered near Lansdowne Chowk in Dehradun on Sunday, calling for the withdrawal or reconsideration of the Bill.Protestors have expressed concern that the proposed Bill undermines their constitutional rights, dignity and legal protections. "The amendments contradict the principles laid down in the 2014 Supreme Court judgment in NALSA vs. Union of India, which affirmed the right to self-determination of gender identity," said Hardeep, founder of Queer Collective Dehradun. He argued that the Bill suggests transgender identity arises only from "mutilation, coercion or intersex variations," a claim activists strongly dispute.The Bill proposes a revised definition of ‘transgender persons,' which activists describe as restrictive. Shaman Gupta, founder of Misfyt Transgender Youth Foundation, said the changes conflate intersex and transgender identities and limit legal recognition to certain socio-cultural groups such as Hijra, Kinnar, Aravani, or Jogti. "This excludes many individuals and removes the right to self-identify," Gupta said, adding that the Bill frames transgender identity as something that can be imposed through coercion or "undue influence."Activists have also raised concerns about provisions that would allow medical boards and administrative authorities to determine an individual's gender identity, warning that such measures could violate privacy and reduce personal autonomy. Additionally, Gupta said that proposed amendments to Section 18 expand punitive provisions. "The Bill introduces penalties of up to five years' imprisonment for ‘alluring' or ‘forcing' someone to become transgender, despite a lack of evidence for such practices. The broad wording of these provisions could lead to misuse and reinforce harmful stereotypes," he said.Protests have emerged across the country, led by members of the transgender community who allege that the Bill was introduced without adequate consultation and threatens to roll back years of progress on transgender rights. Collectively, activists have described the Bill as a significant setback. In a joint statement, they said the Bill risks embedding "misinformed and stigmatising narratives" into the legal framework and fails to reflect the lived realities of transgender persons. They added that the amendment poses an existential threat to the dignity, rights and recognition of transgender persons.