Global Conference in Chennai Amplifies Intersectional Trans and Intersex Rights

In a first-of-its-kind trans rights conference, TransPower 2024, held in Chennai on November 9 and 10, ideas of solidarity and intersectionality echoed as activists and trans rights leaders united to amplify their advocacy for change. The conference was organised by Trans Rights Now Collective, a Dalit transgender-led collective dedicated to advancing the rights and visibility of the marginalised transgender individuals. Spearheaded by prominent Dalit-transgender activist Grace Banu, the conference also reflected the core mission of her organisation: addressing intersectionality within the transgender rights movements.

TransPower curated a unique space for bringing together activists and participants, not only from India but from across the globe, to share their ideas with senior policymakers and influential leaders from diverse sectors such as media, technology, business and more. There were discussions on inclusivity and solidarity with speakers from Dalit and black trans communities collectively expressing the need for uniting the histories of their struggle. This agenda of collective histories shaped the very theme of this event, "Pathways to Inclusive Futures."

With nearly 70 participants joining in, the conference featured notable voices, including New York-based human rights leader Qween Jean and Bahujan politician-activist Dr Thol. Thirumavalan. During conversations with a couple of activist-leaders present at the conference, it became evident that a substantial part of their activism is rooted in the struggle for legitimising their identities as trans and intersex (T&I) individuals within the community. For organiser Banu, this conference has been a key moment in raising awareness about pervasive transphobia and rising patriarchy that must be addressed globally.

The conference titled "Reimagining Inclusion" brought together young trans individuals under the age of 35, with a specific focus on addressing the tragic realities faced by this demographic due to relentless discrimination and systemic social oppression. Banu emphasised, “There is a need to create our own space. Globally, the community is fighting for trans rights but the fight for intersectional trans rights at the regional level must remain distinct. It is especially within this hierarchy of oppression that the privileged voices often dominate the narrative, and those at the bottom of this hierarchy truly understand its weight.”

In the wake of the rising tide of anti-rights movements and alarming rates of gender-based violence being perpetrated on women and trans people globally, the conference opened critical discussions on these pressing issues. Launching her book The Palestinian Bird, a memoir exploring the Palestinian struggle through a trans perspective, Banu shared, “The narrative of my book draws parallels with the oppression the trans community faces everyday. I see my community being pushed into begging and sexually demeaning work. Nothing is more traumatising than enduring a ‘systematic genocide’ of discrimination and violence in one’s own land. This shared pain inspires us to stand in solidarity with all oppressed groups, from Dalit trans individuals to Palestinian communities.” She calls this initiative a reimagining of inclusivity against the systems of oppression.

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Rie Raut, a trans woman and the first trans person in Maharashtra to secure a government scholarship, shared her remarkable journey as a student in London. Currently pursuing an MA in Human Rights at University College London, Raut reflected on the challenges she faced navigating the rigid gender binary during her application for government funding. At the conference, Raut emphasised the urgent need to enhance the quality and accessibility of education for trans learners. A key takeaway from her insights was the critical importance of advocating for horizontal reservations for T&I communities. Raut stated, “This exclusion underscores the necessity of institutional affirmative action, such as granting horizontal reservations to trans individuals, to address systemic inequities and ensure inclusion.”

The conference also delved into crucial panel discussions surrounding the trans community's experiences with law and justice. In a compelling exchange with renowned transgender and RTI activist Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli, the spotlight was cast on trans litigation histories and the injustices faced by the community. Mogli reflected, “On a whole, the conference was a confluence of diverse lived realities and histories – oral, documented and undocumented. We revisited our collective journeys as communities, examining legal battles and the histories of litigation in Indian courts.”

She further remarked, “What elevated this gathering beyond a national conference was the international dimension brought by speakers such as Qween Jean from the US and Hina Baloch from Pakistan, who joined virtually. Their contributions infused a global perspective into our conversations on trans movements, liberation, power and trauma. For many of us, the way forward became clear – to seize opportunities, to wrestle for them and to reclaim spaces long denied to us; whether in education, employment, public sector reservations or aided education. This is about reclaiming agency and creating pathways for change.”

While the conference amplified the voices of both transgender and intersex communities, it underscored the critical need for intersex identities to retain their distinct visibility, even within the broader trans umbrella. Aanandh CR, an intersex transman and activist, and the first intersex person to run for Lok Sabha elections in 2019, highlighted this issue. That same year, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, was implemented. However, the act failed to resonate with the intersex community, as it did not explicitly distinguish intersex identities from transgender ones.

Aanandh, a member of Amigos, a trans men-led collective, emphasised the ongoing underrepresentation of the intersex community and the need to acknowledge their unique struggles and challenges. “TransPower 2024 has truly empowered and inspired me to take concrete steps toward establishing a national intersex alliance, a platform dedicated to uniting and advocating for intersex individuals,” he shared. “In Kerala, we have a trans men-led organisation called Amigos Trans Collective, along with the Sathrang Foundation, which is soon to be formally registered. By combining the efforts of both collectives, we aim to create a unified platform to represent and champion the intersex community at a national level.”

Vihaan Vee, a transman and participant at the event, highlighted the persistent efforts across multiple panels to challenge the rising tide of anti-gender narratives globally. “Today, members of the entire trans community are grappling with multifaceted challenges – ranging from barriers in accessing education to enduring systemic violence and discrimination,” he noted. “Solidarity should not only emerge from a trans-feminist perspective but must also extend to encompass the shared experiences of black trans-masculine individuals and members of Dalit, Bahujan and Adivasi communities in India. Fostering these collective struggles is essential to building an inclusive and intersectional movement.”

The conference also witnessed participants from Manipur, who spoke about the ethnic conflicts within the state, and how that affects trans lives at every juncture.

It became very evident that what the trans and intersex communities truly aspire to is meaningful political representation and the implementation of horizontal reservations within national politics. While the conference celebrated the strength of global solidarity between T&I communities, showcasing their shared intersectionalities, it also underscored a fundamental truth: true empowerment and liberation can only be achieved through access to political power and decision-making spaces.

Manya Singh is The Wire's editorial intern

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