MP Tiruchi Siva calls for end to stigma on transgenders

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul y 20: Batting for equal rights to the transgenders, Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchi Siva, who introduced the private memer's bill in support of the community, said on Monday the centuries old stigma attached with them must stop now.

"Transgenders must be provided constitutional rights like all other citizens and time has come to stop centuries of oppression and stigma faced by gender minorities," said Siva during a programme here today.

Over 200 transgenders participated at the third Transgender Habba - a 'Big Push for Transgender Welfare initiatives in Kerala' - organised by Sangama Pehchan project that reaches out to over 27,000 gender minorities in Kerala.

Siva, who had last year introduced the private member's 'Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014' in Parliament, urged everyone to support the Bill.

"Many members of parliament have expressed solidarity and I am expecting more support to the Bill.The historic law will be passed in support of transgender very soon," a press release quoting him said.

The Rajya Sabha has already passed the bill.Rajesh Umadevi, Director, Sangama, an NGO working for the human rights of sexual minorities since 1999, said the organisation is involved in national advocacy for the last one month to promote passage of the Transgender Bill in the winter session (of Parliament) "to stop the centuries of injustices, discrimination and persecution faced by gender minorities of LGBTQI in India."

CPI(M) politburo member and former state minister M A Baby said transgenders deserve equal rights like any other citizen. "I support the bill and we should make sure it is not diluted," he said.

Sangama's programme manager Shiji Alfred said that under the Pehchan Project they are reaching out with HIV services to 90,000 community members in Karnataka and Kerala since 2010.

PTI