The Coalition for Sex Workers Sexual and Gender Minorities Rights (CSGMR), the Sarathya Karnataka State Level Community Organisations and the Ashakirana Social Service Sangha in Yadgir have strongly opposed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill 2026 introduced in Lok Sabha in March.

Addressing a press conference in Yadgir on Tuesday, office-bearers of these organisations Trimurti K., Christiraj, Priyanka, Maya Nayak and Pundalik Sagarikar said that the Bill has the potential to cause serious harm to the rights of transgender and gender-diverse communities.

“It is an attempt to undermine already existing rights to equality, respect and self-identity,” they said.

“The amendment Bill reduces the right of transgender persons to self-identify. It forces a system where gender identity is validated only through medical examination and certificates. This is against the judgement passed by the Supreme Court in NALSA vs Union of India (2014). According to it, every person has the right to determine his own gender identity and no medical or administrative permission is required,” they said.

Expressing apprehension over the Bill, they said that the transgender community is already facing difficulties in society with regard to jobs and social security and respect.

Instead of protecting the rights of the community, the Union government is trying to wipe them out through the new Bill which wrongly quotes the definition of transgender and violates human rights, they said.

They further appealed to the Union government saying that the right to self-determination of gender identity should be upheld. The amendment Bill should be withdrawn immediately. Meaningful consultation with the community should be carried out at all stages of policymaking.

Laws should be in line with the Constitution and international human rights standards. The dignity and equality of transgender and gender-diverse individuals should be protected. The right to live with dignity, freedom and equality should be ensured for everyone. The values ​​of the Constitution should be upheld, they said.

They said that the district administration recently passed an order preventing transgenders from begging for a livelihood.

“We oppose such an order and demand the administration to withdraw it,” they added.

Ankita, Chinnu P.S., Manjula and others were present.