1/11/22

Four transgender women made to strip by Indian police to "prove" their gender

According to the complaint the women were forced to leave their underwear at the police station 

Four transgender women were ordered by Tripura police to remove their clothes Saturday night while they recorded their apprehension on social media. After they were stripped and humiliated they were forced to sign a statement that if they 'cross dressed' again they would be arrested.

This happened on Saturday night when the four women were on their way back from a party organized at a hotel in the capital city of Tripura when they were stopped by police and taken to custody, Hindustan Times reports

“While we were coming back from a DJ party in a hotel at around 11 pm on January 8, a few police personnel and a man who claimed to be a reporter stopped us. We were taken to West Agartala Women Police Station where we were asked to strip in presence of both male and female police in the night. They even taunted about our dress code and character, “ said Mohini, one of the transgender women. She added that they were accused of extorting people with fake gender identity.

The transgender women claimed that their source of income through make-up art has suffered loss since a few videos of their harassment became viral on social media.

However, some of these videos were deleted from social media after they sought intervention of the Agartala Press Club.

They also alleged that the police made them sit on the floor and did not get them food even after telling the police that they were hungry.

“We demand justice for ourselves and action against the police personnel and the reporter who were in the police station on the incident night, “ she said.

Sneha Gupta Roy, an LGBTQ+ rights activist and a transgender person, said, “Their life at home and in their localities are stigmatized after videos of their harassment went viral on social media. This has also caused pain to our community both psychologically and emotionally.“

“It’s all about struggle for identity. Whatever happened is violation of human rights. We will fight legally to get them justice, “ said Nilanjana Roy, counsel of the distressed transgender persons.

Later, on Monday evening, they filed a complaint at West Agartala Police Station.

An official from Tripura police, on the condition of anonymity, said that they were arrested under Section 51 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) having provisions of preventive arrest.

“I have heard they were held under Section 51 of IPC and we have asked for a report to ascertain on what grounds they were arrested,” said the official, adding that they can seek intervention of either the Human Rights Commission or Police Accountability Commission if they have faced harassment.

1/7/22

Trans Colegate Swimmer Lia Thomas Gets Support From School and league

Lia Thomas
 Lia Thomas / Youtube SwimSwam

Lia Thomas is being given support by the NCAA, her school, and the Ivy League. Her participation on the woman's swim team may have gone unnoticed. But when she succeeded and broke records she became a lightning rod for vitriol commentary.

This sends a dangerous message to trans people everywhere, do your best and pay the consequences. 

In response, both the Ivy League and University of Pennsylvania have issued messages of support for Thomas, making it clear she is abiding by NCAA guidelines, Give Me Sports reports

"Over the past several years, Lia and the University of Pennsylvania have worked to comply with the NCAA to follow all of the appropriate protocols in order to comply with the NCAA policy on transgender athlete participation," the Ivy League statement reads.

"The Ivy League reaffirms its unwavering commitment to providing an inclusive environment for all student-athletes while condemning transphobia and discrimination in any form."

"The league welcomes her participation in the sport of women’s swimming and diving and looks forward to celebrating the success of all of our student-athletes throughout the season."

The same day Penn State issued a simular statement of unequvical support.

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas speaks out after receiving massive backlash