Lok Sabha passes transgender protection Bill

  1. The Lok Sabha has passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2019.
  2. The Bill aims at the social, economic and educational empowerment of transgender persons.
  3. Under the bill, transgender persons are defined as those “whose gender does not match the gender assigned to that person at birth and includes trans-men or trans-women, persons with intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons having socio-cultural identities”
  4. According to the bill, a person would have the right to choose to be identified as a man, woman or transgender, irrespective of sex reassignment surgery and hormonal therapy.
  5. It also requires transgender persons to go through a district magistrate and district screening committee to get certified as a transperson.
  6. It also states that the government, through an insurance scheme, will cover medical expenses for sex reassignment surgery, hormonal therapy, laser therapy or any such health related expenses of transgender persons
  7. The Bill prohibits any person or establishment from discriminating against a transgender person in any way.
  8. It has also proposed establishing a National Council for Transgender persons. The Council would advise the central government on related policies and legislation and also act as a centre for grievance redressal.