Newsroom, March 19, 2026: Hundreds from the LGBTQIA+ community and allies gathered at Dharna Chowk in Hyderabad to protest the recently introduced Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026.
The Bill, tabled in Lok Sabha on March 13, proposes redefining “transgender person” more narrowly, removes the right to self-perceived gender identity from the 2019 Act, and mandates medical board verification for identity certificates steps critics say reverse Supreme Court-backed self-determination and add bureaucratic hurdles.
Similar demonstrations have spread to cities like Pune, Kolkata, and university campuses, with activists warning of setbacks to dignity and inclusion.
