Sexual and gender minorities condemn police move to restrict community activities in public spaces

A community consultation meeting organised by the Trans Feminist Collective and Navedu Nilladiddare in Bengaluru condemned the police guidelines issued on September 24 to regulate alleged instances of transgender persons harassing members of the public, obstructing traffic, aggressively soliciting money, and engaging in unlawful activities at public places. 

Pointing out that gender minority community is one of the most socially, economically, educationally, and culturally marginalised, activists and senior members of the community argued that the government, without providing alternative livelihood opportunities, is recriminalising the community.  

‘Livelihood needs ignored’

“The Karnataka State Policy for Transgender Persons, introduced in 2017, has not been implemented effectively. The order issued on September 24, 2026, by Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh against the gender minority community is contrary to the spirit of the Constitution. The order must be withdrawn immediately,” the participants demanded. 

Arguing that badhai/basti practices and begging are integral to Hijra culture and tradition, community members voiced their objection against attempts to curb such practices without recognising and addressing the community’s cultural identity and livelihood needs. 

Representation, commission aamong demands

Activists and senior members of the community called for immediate formation of a State-level committee ‘to address and eliminate the exploitation, violence, oppression, and atrocities that gender minorities face in their daily lives at the hands of the majority society.’ 

The demands also included housing, alternative employment opportunities, health insurance, government jobs, interest-free loans of ₹10 lakh for livelihood purposes, and an enabling environment that allows people of the community to live with dignity in the city. 

A dedicated corporation comprising largely of community members for the comprehensive welfare and development of intersex persons and gender minorities, immediate and impartial investigation into cases of police brutality against community members and establishment of old-age homes for elderly intersex persons and gender minorities, and short-stay homes for gender-diverse children are some of the other demands. 

The participants also sought political representation of community members and a community representative at every police station to help prevent social discrimination and harassment of gender and sexual minorities.