BENGALURU: Transgender activists, feminists and members of the LGBTQIA+ community on Sunday raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the process could disenfranchise transgender persons, sex workers, tribals, single women, widows and other historically marginalised groups who often lack access to conventional identity and family documentation.
The concerns were voiced during the launch of the “Trans Feminist Collective” organised in Bengaluru in connection with the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Transgender activist Akkai Padmashali said many countries across the world are witnessing increasing hostility towards sexual minorities and warned against policies that could marginalise vulnerable groups.
She criticised the proposed Transgender Amendment Act, calling it "regressive" and alleging that the government failed to conduct adequate consultations with members of the community before introducing the amendments.
Ruth Manorama, president of the National Federation of Dalit Women and Women’s Voice, said transgender, queer, intersex and historically marginalised communities are central to democracy and equality. She described the launch of TFC as an assertion of dignity.
Activists argued that self-identification rights and traditional gender-diverse identities have not been recognised in current laws. “My vote is my right,” Padmashali said, adding that voting rights should not be denied on procedural grounds. They urged authorities to ensure that electoral processes do not discriminate against communities already facing social economic drawbacks.