http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/rajya-sabha-passes-private-bill-to-protect-the-rights-of-transgenders/99/ (http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/rajya-sabha-passes-private-bill-to-protect-the-rights-of-transgenders/99/)
The Bill was passed with the full strength of the treasury benches, though several oppn members were not present.
By: Express News Service | New Delhi | Updated: April 25, 2015 1:18 am
A private member's Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha for the first time in over three decades, with MPs cutting across party lines on Friday to unanimously endorse by voice vote a proposed legislation that aims to promote the rights of transgenders, including reservations and financial aid.
However, the passage was not without its share of turbulence with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot attempting to dissuade DMK MP Tiruchi Siva from moving the Bill, saying that many issues were yet to be resolved on the subject among various ministries.
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This news is about a month old, but I didn't see it posted here on Susan's so I thought I'll share it. It is a big step forward for trans* people in India but there's still a long way to go. The lower house (Lok Sabha) needs to pass it as well before it becomes law, and that is where the BJP (the right-wing party currently in government, who were a bit diffident about this bill in the Rajya Sabha as well) has an outright majority.
Even after it becomes law, government departments need to actually put in place rules etc to implement it, which may take a long time. Not to mention social attitudes which can take far longer to change.
Moreover, implementation may become a problem unless the ambit of the transgender umbrella is clearly defined, and that may lead to struggles within the trans* community itself.
Nevertheless, the fact that such a bill could be passed unanimously at a time when the Indian government and judiciary is still diffident about LGB rights is a positive sign.
Btw, the full text of the bill can be read here.
http://orinam.net/content/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Rights-of-Trangenders-Bill.pdf (http://orinam.net/content/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Rights-of-Trangenders-Bill.pdf)
It seems quite progressive, especially in its broad definition of transgender people, but there is still a long way to go before this is actually implemented.