Newsroom, March 23, 2026: Protesters gathered at Dharna Chowk in Hyderabad to demand the immediate withdrawal of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026.
Community members, including trans activists and advocates, criticized the bill for replacing self-perceived gender identity with mandatory medical board scrutiny and narrowing the definition of transgender persons.
They argued it violates privacy, autonomy, and the Supreme Court's 2014 NALSA ruling on self-determination.
The bill, introduced in Lok Sabha on March 13, aims to refine protections but has sparked nationwide backlash for adding gatekeeping layers that many see as regressive. Activists stressed that gender identity is personal and cannot be externally validated without harm.
