We are not The Other Ones'

Thiruvananthapuram: LGBTIQA rights activists in Thiruvananthapuram are enraged at ‘the other ones’ comment by Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi.

The BJP MP, while talking about spreading anti-human trafficking laws through school text books, was trying to say “man, woman or transgender persons.” Instead she said, “man, woman or other persons.” Then she shrugged, let out a laugh and said “TG persons.”

Transgender rights activists are very unhappy that someone at the helm of Women and Child Ministry behaved in this manner.

State TG cell project officer Syama S. Prabha says, “Her tone and the way she made a face was as if making fun of a transgender person. The minister’s statement, disregarding TG persons, actually is against the Supreme Court NALSA judgment. The comment with its derogatory tone is equivalent to questioning one’s gender identity,” she says.

Right after the minister said ‘the other persons,’ many BJP MPs laughed with her. Many in the central government ministry have made such irresponsible comments before as well, the activists point out. Recently, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, after the famous Rahul Gandhi hug, had said that they fear hugging him back, because “377 is not scrapped yet”. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, at a workshop meant to do sensitisation of transgender persons, had confidently said that transwomen should not wear saris as they are neither men nor women. “The central government political representatives have not made an effort to understand the LGBTQIA community or their issues,” says Syama.

That the minister does not even know the NALSA judgment was surprising to many. Following Maneka Gandhi’s response, Prijith P.K, founder, Queerythm, an organisation for LGBTQIA rights wrote on Facebook, “Madame Maneka Gadhi, epitome of kidness and love, please find some minutes to read NALSA judgment by the honourable Supreme Court.”

Many were indignant that the minister, a self-proclaimed animal lover, did not display any compassion for the sexual and gender minorities. Queer activist Akhil K.K. said, “Transgender persons are not even given the consideration that dogs get. In such a scenario, a transgender representative being present in political assemblies is not going to happen in the near future.”