Rights of Transgender Persons Bill (2014) moved in Rajya Sabha: MP Tiruchi Siva

Congratulations to Thiru Tiruchi Siva, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from DMK, Tamil Nadu, on moving his private member bill, ‘RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDER PERSONS BILL (Bill No. XLIX of 2014’ for discussion and passing in the Rajya Sabha on 27th February, 2015.

The bill was originally introduced by him in the Rajya Sabha on 12th December, 2014. The Bill aims to provide for the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive national policy for ensuring overall development of the transgender persons and for their welfare to be undertaken by the State. The discussion on the Bill was taken up again Friday, 13th March, 2015 in Rajya Sabha and broadcast live on RS TV. (see links below)

The full text of the bill may be viewed here (scroll to page 16)

We are pleased to note that the scope of the bill is wide, including in its remit all the categories of transgender persons covered by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in its recommendations:

“‘transgender person’ means a person, whose sense of gender does not match with the gender assigned to that person at birth. They will include trans-men and trans-women (whether or not they have undergone sex reassignment surgery or hormone therapy or laser therapy etc), gender-queers and a number of socio-cultural identities such as kinnars, hijras, aravanis, jogtas etc. “

It calls for the establishment of a National Commission for Transgender Persons, and state-level Commissions.

It calls for the State to address the problems being faced by transgender people such as “fear, shame, gender dysphoria, social pressure, depression, suicidal tendencies, social stigma, etc. and any insistence for Sex Reassignment Surgery for declaring one’s gender.”

Read the transcript and full text of the bill here (scroll to page 16).

Bill discussion in Rajya Sabha Friday 13, 2015: