Human Rights Watch has said in a statement that  Indian parliament should enact a bill to ensure better legal protection for the rights of the transgender population. The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill will allow for legal gender recognition, removing a fundamental barrier for transgender people towards realizing their basic human rights, including the protection from violence and discrimination, it said in a letter to Indian MPs.

This bill will give the fundamental dignity for transgender people, who for too long have to endure public ridicule and humiliating treatment by police and other authorities, Human Rights Watch said. Indian parliament should ensure that transgender people have full legal recognition as required by the constitution and international law.

In 2014, the Supreme Court has ruled that transgender people are to be recognized as a third gender and should be allowed to enjoy all the fundamental rights. The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, was passed by the Rajya Sabha on April 24 and calls for equal rights to transgender people. To become law, it has to be passed by the Lok Sabha, where the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has a majority.

“We won’t get employment if we declare our sexuality. We can’t attend school if we [identify] as a third gender. This situation forces many of us to hide our sexuality,” Sreekutty, a 24-year-old who works as an anchor on a television channel, said.

We need to accept [transgender people] and their identity for a healthy civil society,” Tiruchi Siva, a parliamentarian who originally moved the bill said. “When I voiced their rights, many people told me that I should not get involved with such controversial groups. It is a pity that we are not recognizing them as human beings,” M A Baby, a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and a state legislator in Kerala said.

Surya, a 23-year-old transgender activist said, “It is not easy to live with dignity if you declare your identity as a transgender, as our society does not yet accept the reality of a third gender,” Surya said. “If we get sick, doctors are not ready to treat us and declare us untouchables. They think that we are all HIV carriers.”

By Premji