New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, March 26 (NationPress) The Joint Action Committee on Transgender and LGBTIQ+ Rights in Keralam, along with various national collectives and community organizations, has voiced strong opposition to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, labeling it as regressive, exclusionary, and unconstitutional.

The primary concern stems from the Bill's elimination of the right to self-identified gender, shifting the decision-making power from the individual to state-sanctioned medical boards. This change introduces invasive certification processes and bureaucratic barriers.

This shift is a direct affront to the principles of dignity, autonomy, and privacy that the Supreme Court has long championed.

Furthermore, the Bill narrows the definition of a "Transgender Person" to specific socio-cultural identities, thereby excluding and legally erasing a significant portion of the community, including trans men, transmasculine individuals, non-binary and genderqueer persons, as well as trans women who do not fit within these limited categories.

This alteration has been made without thorough research, trustworthy data, or substantial consultation with key stakeholders, including the National Council for Transgender Persons.

Another point of contention is the introduction of ambiguous penal provisions that could be misused to target activists, healthcare professionals, educators, families, and support networks.

As the pioneering state to implement a Transgender Policy in 2015, Keralam has rolled out numerous welfare initiatives that have helped transgender individuals transition from social exclusion to dignity and active participation in society.

The Committee warns that imposing restrictions on identity recognition at the national level will directly jeopardize access to these welfare systems, undoing years of advancement.

The repercussions of the Bill are already resonating within the LGBTIQ community.

Reports from various states reveal escalating levels of anxiety, distress, and fear, with many individuals facing existential crises and increased risks of self-harm and suicidality.

In response, the Joint Action Committee on Transgender and LGBTIQ+ Rights in Keralam has begun a series of initiatives at both state and national levels.

They have also resolved to map out future actions by hosting a state-level convention in Keralam, uniting transgender and gender-diverse individuals, community advocates, legal professionals, mental health experts, healthcare providers, and allies to collaboratively strategize the upcoming phase of advocacy. This includes initiating a comprehensive legal consultation to explore constitutional challenges to the Amendment Bill and seek potential judicial interventions.

"This is not merely a legislative amendment; it raises the critical question of whether transgender individuals will continue to be recognized as equal citizens under the Constitution. India has made significant strides over the past decade. This Bill threatens to regress us to an era when identities were controlled, denied, and marginalized," stated the Joint Action Committee.