Delivering the keynote address, Ruth Manorama, president of the National Federation of Dalit Women and Women’s Voice, said transgender, intersex, gender non-conforming, non-binary and queer communities are central to democracy and not at its margins. She said the launch of the collective was not just the formation of an organisation, but a political and social assertion of equality, citizenship and human dignity.
Reflecting on the meaning of feminism and identity, activist Soumya noted that discrimination often begins from birth. Referring to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, she said the law had dealt a setback to the community by recognising only “Hijra” identities within a restrictive framework, therefore undermining the diversity of gender identities. She said this made the formation of the collective necessary.
During a panel discussion, transgender activists shared their experiences of violence, exclusion and social barriers in their struggle for identity and equal citizenship. Participants said that while the 2014 Supreme Court judgment had raised hopes for recognition and justice, the 2026 Act had pushed the community backwards. They said the Trans Feminist Collective would play a crucial role in ensuring access to constitutional rights and strengthening transgender participation in decision-making.
Published – May 17, 2026 09:55 pm IST
