You can hate us trans people, but let us live: Thanuja Singam
Transgender activist-writer says Europe forces trans women to “pretend to be cis women” while India offers community support and workplace acceptance. A transgender activist and memoirist, Thanuja Singam speaks to Frontline about navigating identity across three countries, the weaponisation of beauty standards, and why she used sex as “the key to being a woman” in a patriarchal world that offers trans people both hatred and worship. Edited excerpts: What does gender mean to you? Gender doesn’t mean anything to me because we can’t specify anything by birth. A person has all the gender identities within themselves. I have seen many straight, cisgender men who have a feminine touch. And then, there are many cis women who have a masculine touch. We all are kind of fluid. Does that mean you do not believe in the man-woman binary at all? How does this work for transgender people? I don’t believe in that gender ideology. Society gives me the norm to be a transgender woman. The two-norm society decides how a transgender woman and a transgender man should look. People come up to me saying, “you look so good, you look like a cis woman.” But that’s not my intention. I wanted to feel the way… I wanted to look the way I felt. But society wanted me to look like a model. So there again, we have this problem. Let the person be the way they want to be. How much should doctors and psychologists be involved when someone transitions? Do you think treating gender issues as medical conditions is necessary? Well, it is necessary to have all this guidance. We are going to take medicines which are going to affect us, and give us side effects. So that’s why it’s very important for a young teenager or whoever is going through this path to know what they are doing. Psychotherapy is very important because you don’t know if it is gender identity disorder or if you are feeling different than the others. So in our community, sadly, there are many gay men who became transgender women without even knowing what the problem they have. Later on, you get to know about homosexuality. That’s why it’s very important that we show the difference between all the sexual minority groups and educate the youngsters who want to go through the path. You do talk about that confusion between being a transgender woman and gay. Can you explain it further? A transgender woman is a person who is trapped in a different body. They want to look the way they feel. And that’s what we call gender identity disorder. If it comes to homosexuality, a homosexual person is happy in their body. They don’t have this gender identity disorder. They have a different sexuality preference. They are not attracted to the opposite sex, they are attracted to the same sex, but therefore they don’t need to do anything to their body. You have lived in India, Sri Lanka and Germany. Is being transgender different in these places? Yes, there are many pros and cons. Time has changed a lot. People have changed. My sisters in India have evolved. They fought for their rights, and society started accepting them. So once I came back in 2016, that was my first time I came to India as a transgender woman. So I saw the privilege of being a transgender woman. Here in Europe, we are forced to act like a woman, which is nice. You won’t be labelled as a transgender woman. At the same time, you have to go through a thousand procedures to pass through. We call it passing through as a woman. You have to do a lot so that you can match into society, and that can be a burden. So every day you live with the fear that someone is going to tell your colleagues or your friends that you’re a transgender woman and you don’t know how they’re going to react. So you don’t have this transgender woman privilege here. You’re forced to be a cis woman. Even if it comes to the workplace, if you come up saying, I’m a transgender woman, it’s very hard to get a job. You will be having medical leaves because you’re going to do surgery. So that’s why you won’t get the job. So you have to pretend that you are a cis woman. Back in India, you can be proud saying you’re a transgender woman and the employer will be knowing your path. He will know that you have gone through this hard journey to be where you are today. And he will know that you are capable of doing the work. So you have this difference here. So you have pros and cons. And again, in India, you have a strong community. If you get discriminated against, there will be 50 girls next day fighting for you. Here you fight for yourself. What does beauty mean to you? What does it mean to transgender people? It’s peer pressure for us. It’s something which we have to do to match into society. I wanted to just look like a woman. But society forced me to look like a model. And nowadays, I’m fed up with showcasing transgender women as a beauty icon, as a model, and as beauty pageant contestants. The youngsters will just see the beauty side of being a transgender woman and that’s not what we are. There are more sides to us. Thanuja Singam says that writing the memoir was very important for her because she wanted to share what a transgender woman faces in her life to the world. Thanuja Singam says that writing the memoir was very important for her because she wanted to share what a transgender woman faces in her life to the world. | Photo Credit: By Special Arrangement You mention that transgender people are excluded from feminist movements. What do you think about feminism today? Has it changed? It has become
Trump administration sues California Department of Education over transgender athlete policy, citing Title IX violations
In a move that has reignited the national debate around transgender rights in school sports, the Trump administration has filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Education and its high school sports authority, alleging that the state’s policies allowing transgender girls to compete on girls’ teams violate federal law. The Justice Department argues that California’s long-standing policy, which allows students to participate in sex-segregated programs based on their gender identity, violates Title IX, the federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in education. The suit claims such inclusion “unfairly displaces” cisgender girls from podiums, awards, and potential college opportunities. A larger culture clash This legal action escalates a broader ideological clash between Republican-led federal agencies and Democratic states like California, which have championed transgender rights in education and athletics. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a stark warning to other states with similar policies: “If you do not comply, you’re next.” California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office pushed back, calling the lawsuit a “cynical distraction” from more pressing education issues—such as the federal withholding of funds for enrichment programs. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), which governs high school sports and is also named in the lawsuit, declined to comment, citing pending litigation. However, it has supported the inclusion of trans athletes under state law for over a decade. Legal and political fallout The lawsuit follows Trump’s public criticism of a transgender student-athlete who recently won state-level track titles. A letter from Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon to CIF claimed that this participation violated the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause. The federal Education Department had earlier launched investigations into California and other states, including Maine and Oregon, over similar policies. Maine’s governor, Janet Mills, has also clashed with Trump over threats to withdraw federal funding. Meanwhile, three Oregon athletes have filed a federal suit seeking to disqualify records set by transgender competitors, claiming their rights under Title IX were violated. Divided responses The issue continues to polarize the public. Conservative groups argue these lawsuits are necessary to protect “fairness” in girls’ sports. On the other hand, LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, including Equality California, say the lawsuit is part of a broader assault on transgender youth and their right to participate fully in school life. Interestingly, even Governor Newsom has shown nuance. In a recent podcast, he questioned whether existing policies adequately ensure fairness, sparking criticism from both sides of the debate. What this means for students As this legal battle plays out, the future of trans inclusion in school athletics remains uncertain. While more than 25 U.S. states have enacted laws banning transgender girls from female sports, many of those laws are being challenged in court. For students, particularly those involved in competitive sports or applying for athletic scholarships, this ongoing legal conflict could affect team participation rules, eligibility standards, and how schools approach gender identity policies moving forward. Courtesy : TTOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetimesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Navi Mumbai’s Cleanliness Drive Sees Historic Participation Of Transgender Citizens In Vashi
Organized in collaboration with the NGO Let’s Celebrate Fitness (LCF), the campaign was conducted under the supervision of Vashi Assistant Commissioner Sukhdev Yedve and Sanitation Officer Jayashree Adhal. Navi Mumbai: In a progressive step towards inclusive civic participation, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has actively involved transgender citizens in its cleanliness and hygiene awareness drive under the central government’s ongoing ‘Safai Apnao – Bimari Bhagao’ campaign. The initiative, aimed at encouraging public participation in sanitation efforts, saw enthusiastic involvement from members of the transgender community in the Vashi division. Organized in collaboration with the NGO Let’s Celebrate Fitness (LCF), the campaign was conducted under the supervision of Vashi Assistant Commissioner Sukhdev Yedve and Sanitation Officer Jayashree Adhal. Guided by the NGO’s head Richa Samit, transgender volunteers visited the fruit and vegetable market in Sector 9, Vashi, where they distributed awareness pamphlets and engaged with vendors on waste segregation and responsible disposal of organic waste. Vendors were also urged to avoid using plastic bags and to promote the use of cloth bags among customers. In a parallel activity, some participants held placards at busy intersections in Sector 9 and 16, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk, to raise awareness among commuters about banning single-use plastics and the importance of waste classification. The messages were delivered to motorists waiting at signals, drawing attention to the broader objectives of the cleanliness drive. As part of the anti-plastic enforcement in Vashi, a vendor was fined Rs 5,000 for using banned plastic. Additionally, three vendors were each fined Rs 250 for littering in public spaces. In the Koparkhairane division, similar enforcement efforts were carried out in the MIDC area by a special anti-plastic squad under Assistant Commissioner Bharat Dhandhe and Sanitation Officer Rajusingh Chavan. Bhaskar Dairy was fined Rs 5,000 for possession of single-use plastic materials. The cleanliness awareness campaign is being implemented across Navi Mumbai under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde and the supervision of Additional Municipal Commissioner Sunil Pawar. The Solid Waste Management Department, led by Deputy Commissioner Dr. Ajay Gadade and Officer Smita Kale, initiated the activity. “The idea was to ensureh widespread community engagement, with significant participation from women, senior citizens, and now, transgender citizens—marking a milestone in inclusive urban governance and public health promotion,” AMC Sunil Pawar said. Raina Assainar Courtesy : TFPJ Note: This news is originally published on https:/thefreepressjournal.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Bihar SIR row: Rahul Gandhi repeats ‘chunav chori’ charge; alleges fresh ‘conspiracy’ by EC
Bihar SIR row: Rahul Gandhi repeats ‘chunav chori’ charge; alleges fresh ‘conspiracy’ by ECBihar SIR row: Rahul Gandhi repeats ‘chunav chori’ charge; alleges fresh ‘conspiracy’ by EC NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday upped his ante against Election Commission and accused it of hatching a conspiracy of “stealing the mandate” in poll-bound Bihar just like it did in Maharashtra last year. While addressing a public gathering in Odisha’s Bhubaneshwar, Rahul said that poll body is working for Bharatiya Janata Party and not doing its job. “The BJP is continuously attacking the Constitution. The way the election was stolen in Maharashtra, a similar attempt is being made to steal the election in Bihar. To steal the election, the Election Commission has started a new conspiracy. The Election Commission is working for the BJP, not doing its own job,” the Congress leader said. “Between the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Maharashtra, one crore new voters appeared, but no one knows who these voters were or where they came from. We have repeatedly told the Election Commission – give us the voter list, give us the video, but the Election Commission is not providing them. These people also want to steal Bihar’s election, but we will never let that happen,” he added. This comes amid a row over poll body special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar just months ahead of assembly elections. The opposition has claimed the exercise will disfranchise millions of citizens from electoral rolls. However, the Supreme Court on Friday held the constitutionality of EC’s exercise but also asked it to consider Aadhaar, voter id card and ration card as valid documents for the ongoing exercise. According to the poll body, the exercise is part of its crackdown on illegal immigrants from countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. The poll panel reminded the constitutional provision that says only Indian citizens can vote. “The Constitution of India is supreme. All citizens, political parties, and the Election Commission of India follow the Constitution,” EC said in a statement. The poll panel already has nearly 78,000 booth-level officers (BLOs) and is appointing over 20,000 more for new polling stations, it said. More than one lakh volunteers will be assisting genuine electors, particularly the old, sick, persons with disabilities, poor, and other vulnerable groups during the special intensive revision. Out of the existing 7,89,69,844 electors, 4.96 crore electors, whose names are already in the last intensive revision of the Electoral Roll on January 1, 2003, have to “simply verify so, fill the Enumeration Form and submit it.” The enumeration form should be filled between 25 June and 26 July, after which the draft voter list will be published on 1 August 2025; the period for filing claims and objections will be from 1 August to 1 September, and the final voter list will be published on 30 September. Courtesy : TTOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetimesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Rahul’s stir forced SC to act on SIR, claims Cong
Patna: State Congress president Rajesh Kumar on Friday claimed that the Supreme Court was “compelled” to intervene in the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar, apparently in response to the massive protests led by his party and the visible anger among the public. Speaking to reporters in Patna, Kumar said, “Whenever the country is in crisis, our MP Rahul Gandhi comes forward in the interest of the common people. It was in this context that we launched the ‘chakka jam’ protest in Bihar and keeping in view our agitation and the public’s anger, the Supreme Court apparently chose to interfere in the matter.” Affirming that the Congress would continue to fight for the rights of the poor and marginalised, Kumar described the Supreme Court’s observations as a major blow to what he called the ruling coalition’s “conspiracy to disenfranchise Dalit, OBC and other such communities.” “The exercise was launched to impose vote-bandi, but the Supreme Court foiled this attempt,” he claimed. Kumar added that the court’s involvement would help curb the Election Commission’s conduct. “It is rare for the court to make such direct comments about another constitutional body like the Election Commission,” Kumar claimed. Courtesy : TTOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetimesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Rahul Gandhi pleads not guilty before Pune court in defamation case
Pune: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday pleaded not guilty before a Pune special magisterial court in a criminal defamation case filed by Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha did not appear before the court via video conferencing mode. His lawyer, Milind Pawar, pleaded not guilty and signed the plea on his behalf. Special magistrate Amol Shinde read out the charge levelled by Satyaki, to which Gandhi’s lawyer pleaded not guilty. The court adjourned the hearing for the commencement of trial on July 29. Earlier, Pawar sought permission from the court to record the plea on Gandhi’s behalf. The magistrate, in his two-page order, said this court had granted permission to the accused (Gandhi) to not appear before it personally in this case. The accused has no objection to recording his plea through his advocate. The Supreme Court, in the case of M/s Bhaskar Industries in 2021, held that it was not mandatory for the accused to appear in person, and the court had the discretion to permit representation through a pleader. Considering the ratio of the citation, this court finds that permission should be granted to the accused to record his plea through the advocate. The court later read out the speech delivered in London in March 2023 by Gandhi, which, according to Satyaki, defamed the Hindutva ideologue. The court also explained the provision of Section 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code and asked Pawar if his client was ready to plead guilty. Pawar then pleaded not guilty on behalf of Gandhi. Courtesy : TTOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetimesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Rath deliberately stalled to help Adanis pull chariots, says Rahul; he has a habit of lying: BJP
Bhubaneswar: The BJP govt in Odisha slammed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday for his allegation that this year’s Rath Yatra was stalled to allow industrialist Gautam Adani and his family pull the chariots the next day. While there are past precedents of the chariots getting stalled for various reasons, Rahul tore into the govt saying, “Adani runs Odisha govt. Adani runs Narendra Modi. When Jagannath Yatra was taken out in Odisha, lakhs of people witnessed it. Then, a drama took place. The chariots were stopped for Adani and his family. This will help you understand everything about the Odisha govt.” Slamming Rahul, who was in Bhubaneswar to attend the ‘Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh’ (Save the Constitution rally), state law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said he has a habit of lying. “The claims of Rahul Gandhi are false and baseless,” said Harichandan, explaining that Lord Balabhadra’s chariot had deviated from its path due to an irregular turn, causing delay in pulling the chariots of Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra. The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha renewed his criticism of the Election Commission of India (ECI), a day after Supreme Court allowed it to proceed with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Claiming that Congress will continue to oppose the SIR in Bihar, Rahul said, “The ECI is acting like a body of the BJP and attempting to steal the forthcoming Bihar mandate, similar to the practice they had adopted in Maharashtra. The Congress will not allow the ECI and BJP to repeat the Maharashtra-like ‘chunav chori’ (vote theft) in Bihar.” Rahul also accused the Centre and state of handing over the state’s resources to a handful of billionaires. Accusing the state govt of “stealing the wealth” from poor tribals, who form about 22% of the state’s population, the Congress leader said, “Just like the previous BJD govt, this BJP govt is allowing 5-6 big companies to exploit the state’s land, water, and forests.” He added, “Nowhere in the Constitution has it been written that the country belongs to Adani, Ambani and billionaires. The land in the country belongs to the poor and farmers and not to a single billionaire. But wherever we see, be it Odisha or Chhattisgarh, only one name is being seen — Adani.” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who also addressed the rally, took potshots at PM Modi over Operation Sindoor. “US President Donald Trump claimed that he stopped the war between India and Pakistan. But, Modi remained silent as he lacked the courage to counter Trump. The PM’s only interest is in visiting foreign countries and getting awards there,” Kharge said. BJP state president Manmohan Samal hit back, highlighting Modi’s effective governance. “Modi ji’s good governance has impressed global leaders. Operation Sindoor has been widely praised by international experts. People in the country have not forgotten the Congress misrule. Odisha has made rapid progress under our double engine govt,” Samal said. Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan termed Congress-sponsored ‘Samvidhan Bachao Samavesh’ as ‘save Rahul Gandhi and Congress’ event. “Congress faced crushing defeats in Maharashtra and Haryana, after which Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge are blaming the Election Commission and democratic institutions for their losses. The history of Congress has always been one of neglecting the rights of the poor and marginalized sections,” Pradhan said. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
2 workers died while cleaning sewage tank in Delhi: Bezwada Wilson said–same old story of criminal administrative negligence and political indifference!
Two workers died due to inhaling toxic gases while cleaning sewage tank. New Delhi- Once again two workers died while cleaning the sewage treatment plant (STP) in the capital Delhi, and the shocking thing is that this incident happened in the premises of a private hospital. The relatives of the deceased workers and social workers have expressed anger over this incident and raised the question that till when will the poor laborers be forced to work in life-threatening conditions without safety equipment? This incident took place at Shri Balaji Action Hospital in Paschim Vihar, West Delhi, where two workers died due to inhaling toxic gases while cleaning the sewage tank. The police have registered a case, but the question is whether such incidents will be stopped by just registering a case? Death due to exposure to toxic gases On Tuesday evening, July 8, two daily wage workers died after being exposed to toxic gases while cleaning a sewage treatment plant (STP) tank. The deceased have been identified as Brijesh, 26, and Vikram, 38, from Hardoi district in Uttar Pradesh. According to the police, both were employees of a private company that had been awarded the annual maintenance contract (AMC) of the STP of Shri Balaji Action Hospital. Senior officials said the workers were only given disposable masks and no other safety or life-saving equipment. A case has been registered at the Paschim Vihar East police station under Section 106 (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (BNS) and Section 9 of the Prohibition of Employment of Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. DCP (Outer) Sachin Sharma told Hindustan Times that action has been taken based on the medico-legal report of the hospital. “The doctor declared both the labourers dead. Initial investigation revealed that both of them fainted while cleaning the carbon filter, which was being done by the AMC contractor.” Though no one has been named in the FIR, a senior police officer said that investigation will also be conducted against the hospital administration, the private company and its supervisors. Bezawada Wilson, a social activist working for a ban on manual scavenging, expressed deep anger over the incident and wrote on x: Two more deaths while cleaning sewage tanks in the national capital, this time in a hospital premises! Same old story – forced to work in poisonous gases without any safety equipment! It is the same sad tale of criminal administrative negligence and political apathy! Under the Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, cleaning sewers, septic tanks or STPs without safety equipment is strictly prohibited. As per the law, employers, including contractors and institutions, can be held criminally responsible for such deaths, with a provision of jail and fine. Yet, due to negligence and weak enforcement of law, such incidents keep happening across the country. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Suspicious death of Dalit labourer in Deoria: Murder case against four including son and brother of SP district president
Allegations of kidnapping and beating from home after an argument over asking for wages, cause of death not clear in post-mortem. Deoria (Uttar Pradesh). The case of the death of a Dalit labourer under suspicious circumstances, who was guarding the under-construction house of the Samajwadi Party (SP) district president in Deoria district, has gained momentum. Based on the allegations of the deceased’s family, the police have registered a murder case against four people, including the son, brother and two other relatives of SP district president Vyas Yadav. Police teams are raiding to arrest the accused. The incident took place in Sakrapar Tola of Sadar Kotwali area. 45-year-old Paramhans Prasad had been guarding the school and under-construction house of SP district president Vyas Yadav for a long time. He died under suspicious circumstances on Tuesday night. Paramhans’s son Sonu Kumar alleged in the complaint given to the police that on the night of July 8, his father had asked for wages. On this issue, there was an altercation with SP district president’s brother Kunj Bihari Yadav. After the dispute, Paramhans returned home. Sonu alleges that after some time Kunj Bihari Yadav, Parsan Yadav, Amarendra Yadav and Sachin Yadav came to his house. Using casteist words, they forcibly picked up his father and beat him badly. At around 11 pm, the accused fled after throwing his father at the door in a serious condition. Paramhans died in a short while. Cause of death not clear in post-mortem After the incident, the police took the body into custody and sent it for post-mortem. A two-member team of doctors from the health department conducted the post-mortem and also got the entire process videographed. The cause of death could not be ascertained in the primary report. No external injury marks were found on the body. Due to this, the viscera of the body has been preserved so that forensic investigation can be done. What did the police officer say? Deoria SP Vikrant Veer said, “A murder case has been registered on the basis of the complaint of the deceased’s son. Teams have been deployed to arrest the accused. Investigation is ongoing.” According to police sources, some suspects are also being questioned in view of the seriousness of the case. Political atmosphere heated up After the name of the SP district president’s family came to the fore in the incident, there has been a stir in political circles as well. Some local organizations of the Dalit community have demanded immediate arrest of the culprits and strict action. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit wedding procession attacked in Saharanpur! Ruckus over playing DJ, thrashed with sticks, 5 arrested – tension in the village
Clash between wedding procession and Muslim community over playing DJ near mosque, police arrested five accused. A Dalit wedding procession was attacked on Sunday night (July 6) in Deoband area of Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh when a dispute broke out over playing DJ near the mosque during the procession. According to police and eyewitnesses, the incident took place during the wedding of two daughters of village resident Mange Ram. One of his wedding processions was going from Sadharanpur village via Amarpur Garhi village and DJ was being played at high volume on the way. Meanwhile, people of the local Muslim community demanded to stop the DJ citing the time of Namaz near the mosque. When the wedding procession refused, the matter turned from dispute to violence. It is alleged that some people from the Muslim community broke the DJ, damaged the machines and attacked the baraatis with sticks and sharp weapons. Many baraatis were injured in this attack. Two Dalit youths, Pankaj and Vansh, were seriously injured. They were referred to Meerut after first aid in Deoband. After the incident, the bride’s father Mange Ram lodged a complaint with the police. Based on his complaint, the police have registered a case under sections 191(2), 115(2), 352, 189(4) of the Indian Penal Code and the SC/ST Act. The police have arrested five accused in the case—Mohammad Abuzar, Asjad, Israr, Sadiq and Faheem—and sent them to jail. In view of the communal tension of the incident, heavy police force has been deployed in the village to prevent any further violence. Senior officers are keeping a close watch on the situation and regular police patrolling is being done. The administration has appealed to both the communities to maintain peace and has warned of strict action against any attempt to disturb law and order. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News