OCTOBER 23, 2011.

SUNDAY MiD DAY

TRACKING TRENDS ABOUT TO HIT YOU, EVERY WEEK

The Indians without laws

Forget willing your property to a long-time partner, the law doesnt recognise her; Dont dance too hard in a gay party, you could be booked for indecent behaviour; Facing domestic violence? If you are a gay man, the law doesnt protect you. While the country awaits the Supreme Courts judgement on Section 377, lawyers and activists turn their attention to other laws and attitudes that fail to recognise the rights of LGBT persons

Humsafar Trust CEO Vivek Anand (left) and Director, HIV Programs Pallav Patankar lay out their plans for the impending three-city community consultation to chart out a legal roadmap for the queer community. The World Bank has commissioned Amaltas, a New Delhi-based research organisation, and the Humsafar Trust to carry out this consultation. PIC/SURESH KK
New Delhi. The father of one had slapped a case of robbery against his daughter, almost a month February 11, 2010: Srinivas after she had left home to be Ramchandra Siras, Chairman of with her partner. The duo was the Modern Indian Languages being sheltered by a Delhi-based department of the Aligarh lesbian support group when Muslim University, was suspend- policemen from Mumbai and ed because of a video of Siras Delhi raided their flat with tearhaving consensual sex with gas cylinders and a crowbar and another man. The recording was a hammer to force open the made by local TV reporters and doors. They reportedly dragged cameramen as a sting opera- one of the NGO members out of tion. AMU Vice Chancellor the way using physical force. reportedly said that he would not allow a homosexual to reside July 28, 2011: Beena and and teach in the campus. Siras Savita, residents of Khekada vilthen approached the Allahabad lage, Bhagpat (Haryana), High Court, which stayed the approached a Gurgaon court suspension order on April 2. The seeking protection against their court did not comment on the family. The couple told the professors sexual orientation, Additional Sessions judge that but stated that the disciplinary they had signed an affidavit on action taken by AMU was not July 22 stating that they were valid. Five days later, the rein- married, and Savitas family stated professor was found dead members were threatening her. in his apartment. The judge not only unquestioningly made a note of their February 20, 2011: A lesbian couple was almost arrested in CONTINUED ON PG 2
dhamini.ratnam@mid-day.com

DHAMINI RATNAM

There is no legal compulsion to accept my new identity. Everything from travelling abroad to applying for certain jobs, depends on how broad-minded the official accepting my application is. While the state has procedural guidelines for a kidney transfer, there is nothing when it comes to SRS (Sex Reassignment Surgery).
underwent a male-to-female Sex Reassignment Surgery in 2009

UMA