India's Parliament Passes Controversial Transgender Rights Bill

0:00It's March 26, I'm Cory with the story, and this is Global News Today, your AI-powered world briefing. India's parliament has passed a bill amending the 2019 Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Act. The measure removes the right for transgender people to self-identify their gender. Instead, it requires certification for medical boards and district authorities based on biological or physical traits. This now heads to the president for final approval. The government claims the narrower definition will better target welfare benefits, like job quotas and health care to those facing the worst. Discrimination? It includes intersex individuals and traditional transgender identities common in India, while aiming to curb exploitation and trafficking. Earlier this decade, the Supreme Court in 2014 recognized transgender people as a third gender and back self-identification. Despite the 2019 law, around 2 million transgender individuals still deal with barriers to education,

1:01jobs, and medical care. Protests have erupted from the transgender community and LGBTQ groups who argue the bill excludes non-binary and gender-fluid people and invades. Personal privacy. Opposition leaders have slammed it as overly harsh, and a court-appointed panel recommends scrapping it for clashing with prior rulings. Meanwhile, rallies continue nationwide as activists demand rights without mandatory checks. This fight underscores the push for true inclusion amid uneven legal progress.