Manipur transgenders protest SC ruling
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 13 2013 :
Joining the Nation wide protest against the Supreme Court (SC)'s verdict upholding section 377 of the Indian Penal Code ( IPC) that criminalizes homosexuality, transgender community of the Dtate on staged protest demonstrations in Imphal today evening.
With candles in their hands, the transgenders sang "We Shall Overcome" in unison ahead of the 'Northeast Transgender Queen Contest' at Bheigyachandra Open Air Theatre (Boat).
They also carried placards against the verdict.
The All Manipur Nupi Maanbi Association (AMANA), a conglomerate body of various community based transgenders' organizations of the State organized the event that witnessed 33 young transgenders of the North East mostly Manipuris vying for the coveted crown.
On Wed-nesday, the Supreme Court set aside a 2009 Delhi HC verdict that decriminalised homosexuality.
Section 377 of the IPC holds that same gender sexual relationship is against the order of nature and is punishable.
Self-explanatory slogans reading "Is heterosexuality more normal than homosexuality", "We are neither saved inside the bedroom nor outside", "Knock out Supreme Court's verdict" "The soul has no sex" , and " If LGBTI rights are criminalized where would Sangai survive," were displayed .
"We are not happy with the Supreme Court's verdict.
It came at a time when we the transgender community have joined hands together and geared up to fight for our rights and against stigma and discrimination from certain sections of the society," said AMANA secretary Santa Khurai .
"We are living in a democratic society following the social norms and thus the rights of LGBTIs (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex) should also be honored by all institutions including the judiciary," Shanta said.
"The verdict has thrown us to the medieval age and it violates our basic human rights," quipped another transgender Jenny.
The transgenders were so happy when the Delhi High Court delivered its verdict decriminalizing gay sex in 2009, but "our pride and liberty endowed by it has now been overturned by the Supreme Court's ruling," said Santa (37) of Imphal.
Santa, nevertheless said that the status of gay and transgender community in Manipur has been rising gradually with most of them having come out and joined socio-economic activities.
Over fifty percent of Imphal's beauty parlours are run by transgenders, Santa said and added that the roles of the heroine and female characters in Shumang Leela (Traditional courtyard theatre) are played mostly by transgenders.