India's New Bill Excludes Transgender Activists, Sparks Outrage
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Members of the Transgender community have sought the withdrawal of the recently-tabled Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, stating that it significantly narrows the ambit of the existing law that was passed in 2019 to ensure the rights and entitlements of transgender persons in the country.
The bill violates the right to self-determine one’s gender, as well as the right to privacy granted by the Supreme Court of India in judgements passed in 2014 and 2017, and would also create divisions within the community, activists, lawyers and civil society members said at a press conference held on Monday.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar introduced the bill in the Lok Sabha on March 13, which sought to make amendments to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019.
Activists stated that they wanted the bill to be completely withdrawn. “We are currently working on advocacy incentives with progressive members of parliament. Since the bill was introduced on Friday, many of them have been calling us to work together,” said Ritu, a transwoman who addressed the press.
