The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights Bill), Act 2019 and Rules 2020
The re-elected government got a modified version of the 2018 Bill approved by Cabinet. It was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Jul 19, 2019 and passed Aug 05, 2019. In Nov 2019 it was debated in the Rajya Sabha, and was subsequently passed on 26 November 2019. It is now awaiting the assent of the President.
Full text of the Bill, Act and Rules
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020
Note: these are Final Rules of Sept 2020, incorporating community feedback given
to the Draft Rules of July 2020. The key difference is that the Final Rules have dispensed with the surgery requirement mentioned in the Act and draft Rules, and replaced it with a Letter of Medical Intervention requirement.
Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2019 (in Lok Sabha)
[English, pdf]
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2019 (in Lok Sabha)
[translated in Kannada (by Sangama), pdf]
Press releases and statements
Post 26 Nov 2019
- Tamil Nadu Rainbow Coalition (in English)
- Tamil Nadu Rainbow Coalition (in Tamil)
- National Network of Sex Workers (Letter to the President)
- Peoples Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR)
- National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM)
- Press release by the community, 26 Nov 2019
Before 26 Nov 2019
- Press release by community at DQC, 24 Nov 2019
- Press release by the community, 20 Nov 2019
- Memorandum to ministers from the community, 3rd November, 2019
- Press release by the community, 16 July 2019
- Sampoorna Working Group Statement on
Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2019 - International Commission of Jurists
- Human Rights Watch
- Letter to Rajya Sabha MPs from a TransFeminist meeting held in Sept 2019
- Letter from women’s groups to Rajya Sabha MPs seeking justice for transgender and gender-non conforming people: Nov 2019 [English] [Telugu] [Hindi] [Marathi] Bengali]
Protests and press conferences (post 26 Nov 2019)
28 Nov – 4 Dec 2019
- Protest, Chikamagalur, 4 Dec
- Protest march to Raj Bhavan, Trivandrum, 3 Dec (poster1, poster2, poster3)
- Protest, Indian High Commission, London, 2 Dec
- Protest, Town Hall, Bengaluru, 1 Dec (poster)
- Protest, outside Sambaji Park, Pune, 1 Dec (poster)
- Protest, Dadar Station, Mumbai, 30 Nov (poster)
- Protest, Ichalkaranji, Sangli, 29 Nov
- Protest, Satara, 29 Nov
27 Nov 2019
- Protest, Mysore Bank Circle, Bengaluru (poster)
- Protest, Sambhaji Park, Pune (poster)
- Protest, Velivada, HCU, Hyderabad (poster)
- Protest, Sangoli Rayanna Circle, Hubli
- Press conference, Press Club, Mumbai (poster)
- Press conference, Press Club, Bengaluru
- Press conference, IWPC, New Delhi (poster)
27 Nov 2019
- Protest, Town Hall, Bengaluru
Media coverage (including community and legal media) following the passing of the Bill in Rajya Sabha
5-15 December 2019
- A Shared Agenda Behind The Trans Rights Act & Citizenship Amendment Bill?
Youth ki Awaaz - Transgender (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019: In violation of the NALSA judgment?
Bar and Bench - Despite massive protests, Trans Bill gets President’s assent, becomes law
The News Minute - Here’s Why The Transgender Act Is A Disaster For The Trans Community
Youth ki Awaaz
1-4 December 2019
- Reclaiming Rights: Transgender Persons Bill and beyond
TheLeaflet.in - Postcard campaign to #StopTransBill launched, thousands write to President Kovind
The News Minute - Transgenders Bill: Protesters take out march, ask Prez to withhold assent
Business Standard - The worrying implications of the transgender bill
The Telegraph (Editorial) - Setting the clock back on intersex human rights
The Hindu - The Modi Govt’s Handling of the Trans Rights Bill is Transphobia in Action
The Wire - Right the wrongs in Transgender Bill
Deccan Herald - The trouble with the Transgender persons bill
Indian Express - Trans Community Appeals to President Kovind to Block Bill as it Fails to Crackdown on Sexual Abuse
News 18 - India’s trans rights bill 2019 “Is Just Devastating”
Planet Transgender - Reclaiming Rights: Transgender Persons Bill and beyond
The Leaflet (Tripti Tandon and Aarushi Mahajan) - 5 Crucial Things I Learned While Opposing The Trans Bill 2019
Youth Ki Awaaz (Aqsa Shaikh) - Transgender bill 2019 will lead to harassment and discrimination allege community members
Hindustan Times - Transgender bill violates our rights, says ..
Times of India - Transgender Persons Bill, 2019: Dehumanising India’s third gender with half-baked certification process
Mirror Now - Alappuzha: Transgender persons object to provision in new bill
Deccan Chronicle - India’s Controversial Trans Bill Has Sparked Protest In UK As Well As Back Home
Huffington Post - Critics lash India’s ‘regressive’ new trans rights bill
The Washington Post - Trans Rights Campaigners are marching to the Indian High Commison in London – Here’s Why
Huffington Post - Why India’s Trans People Disappointed With The Transgender Bill 2019? | HW News English
HW News - India: no country for transgender women
South China Morning Post - India Just Passed A Trans Rights Bill. Why Are Trans Activists Protesting It?
NPR - Transgender bill awaits presidential nod to become law but betrays the very community it aims to protect
First Post - What next for transgender people, as India clears a bill that activists call “murder of gender justice”?
Quartz India - India trans community calls to block bill fearing it leaves them at risk
Reuters - Transgender Persons Bill has let down the community’s long struggle for self respect.
Indian Express - Transgender bill 2019 will lead to harassment and discrimination allege community members
Hindustan Times - How India’s New Trans Bill Will Hurt More Trans People Like Me
Vice (by Neysara; as told to Pallavi Pundir) - திருநங்கை உரிமை பாதுகாப்பு மசோதாவுக்கு குடியரசுத் தலைவர் ஒப்புதல் தரக்கூடாது;சென்னை திருநங்கைகள் கூட்டமைப்பு வலியுறுத்தல்
The Hindu (in Tamil) - மாநிலங்களவையில் நிறைவேற்றப்பட்ட திருநங்கை பாதுகாப்பு மசோதா : NALSA தீர்ப்பிற்கு முரணானது என குற்றச்சாட்டு
Jaya News Live (in Tamil) - ट्रांसजेंडर बिल के विरोध में रास्ते पर उतर कर किया विरोध : बिल में बदलाव करने की मांग !
VSRS News (in Hindi) - திருநங்கைகளைப் பெண்கள் என்ற எல்லைக்குள் கொண்டு வரவேண்டும்!!
Namakaga TV (in Tamil, video) - The Struggle Against the Transgender Bill 2019 Intensifies
News Click (Video)
29-30 November 2019
- A bill meant to protect India’s transgender community instead leaves them angry and aggrieved
Washington Post - Why are there objections to the Transgender Persons Bill?
The Hindu - India’s transgender community says new law doesn’t protect members and may even make them more vulnerable
South China Morning Post - Transgenders’ Bill 2019 denies the community to decide their own identity — a right granted by the SC
Indian Express (A. Revathi) - Sex workers urge President Kovind not to sign transgender Bill: Pune
Indian Express - Explainer: Despite criticism, the Transgender Persons Bill was just passed. What’s next?
Scroll - Trans Bill 2019: Why India’s transgender community is opposing a Bill which is supposed to protect their rights
Justice News - What next for transgender people, as India clears a bill that activists call “murder of gender justice”?
Our Civil Society - Transgender bill draws flak from the community
Sunday Guardian - Transgender Persons Bill 2019 may cause more psychological harm than good with its stance on certification, ‘self-perceived’ identities
First Post - Inspired By Supreme Court Of India, Zimbabwe HC Delivers Landmark Judgment Denouncing Discrimination Against Transgenders
Live Law - Manipur trans community not happy with Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill
IFP Bureau - People protest against the Transgender Persons Bill 2019 at Dadar
Mumbai Mirror (Video) - The Transgender Persons Bill explained
The Hindu (Video) - Transgender Bill 2019 Confines Us to Mere Bodies, Say Activists
News Click (Video)
28 November
- Why I am unhappy with the transgender persons bill
Mumbai Mirror (Shals Mahajan) - ‘Murder of Our Rights’: Activists Urge President Kovind Not to Sign Trans Bill
The Wire - Not Sure Why People Are Protesting the Trans Bill? Here’s A Quick Guide
Agents of Ishq - ‘A Dangerous Piece of Legislation’: Protesters Demand that President Return ‘Humiliating’ Trans Bill to Parliament
The Citizen - ‘We will not stop fighting’: TN transgender activist, Grace Banu on recently passed Transgender Bill, 2019
Edex Live - ‘Will go to court if we have to’: Hundreds protest regressive Trans Bill in Bengaluru
The News Minute - Murder of Gender Justice, Say Transgender Activists as Rajya Sabha Passes Bill
News Click - Rajya Sabha passes Transgender Bill, receives criticism from LGBTQ+ Community
Mangalore Today - Caught in the Act: On Transgender Persons Act
The Hindu (Editorial) - New law that was to guarantee the rights of transgender persons actually undermines these
Financial Express (editorial) - A step forward: Transgender Bill is welcome but activists don’t like all of it
Times of India (editorial) - Why is the Transgender Community Fighting Against the Government’s Transgender Persons Bill?
The New Leam - Trans, queer collectives in city gather to protest new Bill
The Hindu - This is Why India’s Trans Bill Hurts Transgender People, Not Helps Them
Audio Boom (audio podcast) - திருநர் பாதுகாப்பு மசோதா 2019: இந்துத்துவ அரசும் மாற்றுப் பாலின மக்களின் கோரிக்கைகளும்!
Minnambalam (in Tamil) - ಲಿಂಗತ್ವ ಅಲ್ಪಸಂಖ್ಯಾತರ ಹಕ್ಕುಗಳ ರಕ್ಷಣಾ ಮಸೂದೆ ೨೦೧೯” ತಿರಸ್ಕರಿಸಲು ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರತಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಆಗ್ರಹ
Kourava News (in Kannada) - Why is transgender community unhappy with ‘regressive’ trans bill
The Print (video) - तृतीय पंथीयांना ट्रान्स बिल विरोधात करणार आंदोलन
Dinman News (in Marathi, video) - Transgender Bill 2019: Protection of suppression?
Mumbai Mirror (Video, on twitter)
27 November
- Transgender activists sore over passing of bill in RS
The Hindu - ‘Murder of gender justice’ — activists urge President Kovind not to sign transgender bill
The Print - ‘Murder of Gender Justice’: Activists Call Out ‘Trans (Phobic) Bill’ for Violating Fundamental Rights
News 18 - India’s transgender rights check disappoints a LGBTQ community
South Asian Wire - Transgender Persons Bill 2019: We won’t accept the discriminatory Bill, say activists
Mumbai Mirror - The Transgender Persons Bill is a violation of fundamental rights, say activists
The Hindu - A missed opportunity
Hindustan Times (Editorial) - What happened to EQUAL rights?
LGBTQ, MIST - Not protection of rights, but murder of rights: Trans community on bill passed in Rajya Sabha
The Statesman - Parliament passes Bill to protect rights of transgenders
India Today - Stop transgender bill: Community activists say it violates their rights
India Today - India passes ‘dehumanising’ trans rights bill despite immense pressure from queer activists
Pink News, UK - Watch | Transgender Bill: ‘We Want President to Send the Bill Back’, Say, Activists
The Wire (Video) - 6 Reasons Why Transgender Bill Is Flawed!
India Times (Video) - Transgender Persons Bill 2019: We won’t accept the discriminatory Bill, say activists
Mumbai Mirror (Video) - Trans community Speaks Out Against the Trans Bill”
Quint (Video)
26 November
- Breaking : Parliament Passes Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill
Live Law - Rajya Sabha Passes Controversial Transgender Rights Bill
The Wire - Rajya Sabha passes Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019
Live Mint - ‘Transphobic’: Parliament Just Passed Transgender Bill And People Are Outraged
Huffington Post - Transgender Bill 2019: Parliament passes Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill
Jagran Josh - Rajya Sabha Passes Transgender Bill After Motion to Refer it to Select Committee Defeated
News 18 - Amid opposition from trans community, Rajya Sabha passes Transgender Persons Bill
The News Minute - Rajya Sabha Passes Controversial Transgender Persons Protection Bill 2019
The Logical Indian - Transgenders want to identify their own gender but law now says they need a certificate
Business Insider - Rajya Sabha Passes The Controversial Trans Bill, Twitter Erupts In Protest
Scoop Whoop - Transgender rights bill gets House nod as activists protest
Hindustan Times - Rajya Sabha passes Transgender Persons Bill despite stiff opposition
Mumbai Mirror - Parliament passes Bill to protect rights of transgender
Tribune India
25 November
- Why India’s transgender people are protesting against a Bill that claims to protect their rights
Scroll (Ajita Banerjie)
Remarks by individual MPs in the Rajya Sabha leading up to the vote
(Rajya Sabha TV videos on youtube)
26 November
- Voting & Passing of The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019
- Minister TC Gehlot’s Reply
- Satish Chandra Misra’s Remarks
- A. Navaneethakrishnan’s Remarks
- Derek O Brien’s Remarks
- Smt. Roopa Ganguly’s Remarks
- V Vijaysai Reddy’s Remarks
- Tiruchi Siva’s Remarks
- Dr K Keshava Rao’s Remarks
21 November
- Suresh Prabhu’s Remarks
- Sanjay Singh’s Remarks
- Ashok Siddharth’s Remarks
- Vandana Chavan’s Remarks
- Rakesh Sinha’s Remarks
- Shiv Pratap Shukla’s Remarks
- Binoy Viswam’s Remarks
- P. Wilson’s Remarks
- Dr. Amar Patnaik’s Remarks
- Husain Dalwai’s Remarks
20 November
- Jaya Bachchan’s Remarks
- Dr. Amar Patnaik’s Remarks
- Shiv Pratap Shukla’s Remarks
- Ramkumar Verma’s Remarks
- Prof. Manoj Kumar Jha’s Remarks
- Vijila Sathyananth’s Remarks
- Sasmit Patra’s Remarks
- Prof. M.V. Rajeev Gowda’s Remarks
- Ramkumar Verma’s Remarks
- Shanta Chhetri’s Remarks
- Ram Chandra Prasad Singh’s Remarks
- Jharna Das Baidya’s Remarks
- Dr. Anil Agrawal’s Remarks
- Wansuk Syiem’s Remarks
- Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Remarks
- Dr. L. Hanumanthaiah’s Remarks
- Dr. Ashok Bajpai’s Remarks
- Prof. Manoj Kumar Jha’s Remarks
- Minister TC Gehlot moves Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill for consideration & passing
Media coverage (Jan-Aug 2019)
See separate page here.