TN Govt. Formulates New Policy for LGBTQIA+ Community
The Tamil Nadu government in December 2022 stated that it would be directing the Madras High court to alter the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community to ensure that members and allies of the community are well protected.
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The Tamil Nadu government in December 2022 stated that it would be directing the Madras High court to alter the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community to ensure that members and allies of the community are well protected. These new rules include the ban on conversion therapy, inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ issues in the school curriculum, training of teachers in being more mindful, the introduction of gender-neutral washroom facilities and a separate section for transexuals in applications.
The transgender persons act, 2019 had already established certain rules pertaining to the transgender community such as formulating a glossary of words to be used to ensure that one addresses the community in a
respectful and dignified manner and abolition of conversion therapy for all members of the community after a plea from a lesbian couple who were facing harassment from their family and police.
The new policy is estimated to be finalised within three months and the training of teachers has already begun with over one lakh teachers having received virtual training. The Tamil Nadu government had previously released a glossary in the Tamil Nadu government gazette of the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment department on 20 Aug. 2022. The terms mentioned in the glossary are to be followed while mentioning or referring to members of the community in any official document or being addressed in any forum.
The judge when asked by the government for more time to finalise the transgender policy stated that “the Government must bear in mind that persons belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community have been sidelined from the mainstream of society for too long a period and it is high time that top priority is given to implementing the policy and rules….”.