After addressing the transgender community as ‘other ones’ in the Lok Sabha, Maneka Gandhi apologised for it on Monday, 30 July through a tweet, stating that she was embarrassed at her lack of knowledge.
The controversy broke out earlier on Thursday, 26 July, when the minister of Women and Child Development addressed the transgender community as ‘other ones’, while debating the anti human-trafficking bill.
Although she was quick to correct herself shortly after, and used the term ‘TGs’, her gaffe invited ridicule from MPs in the house.
In a two-part tweet, Gandhi stated that she was not aware of the official terminology for the transgender community, and in future will use the term ‘TGs’ to refer to them.
The minister’s remark drew the ire of the transgender community, who called her out on Twitter and demanded an apology.
Meera Sanghamitra, a transwoman and human-rights activist criticised Gandhi stating “We are not other ones or your pets.”
While Sanghamitra stated that she felt appalled, anguished and ashamed, others called it a brazen display of ignorance.
Anindya Hajra, founder of Pratyay Gender Trust, an organisation that aims at empowering transgender women, said on Facebook,
“...The dignity that we are denied in our lives and in our deaths – you endorsed it all Madam Minister – you stamped it approvingly with your disparaging body language, your uneasy banter and that face you made, trying to hide the mockery that came instinctively to you.”Anindya Hajra, Founder, Pratyay Gender Trust
In a separate incident, The Hindu reported that the National Network for Sex Workers (NNSW) hit out at Maneka Gandhi for ‘belittling’ them during the discussion on anti-human trafficking bill.
The NNSW stated that the Union Minister’s unpleasant remarks reinforced the stigma faced by sex workers.
The organisation referred to Gandhi’s remark on Thursday, when she saidd “I am going to be wicked….During the consultation on the Bill, we received comments from two groups – one representing the victims and the other representing sex workers. Dr Tharoor represents the second group.”
(With inputs from The Hindu)
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