Pune: When Sonali Dalvi, a transgender person, tried to go shopping at Phoenix Market City Mall in Pune’s Vimannagar on Thursday evening, she was denied entry because mall policy apparently did not allow transgender persons entry.
Dalvi argued with the security personnel and management for a long time, after which she was allowed to enter. Friends who were with her filmed the incident, and the video has gone viral. She is planning to file a complaint and stage a protest outside the mall.
Mall officials have denied the charges of discrimination.
Dalvi, who lives with her parents in Kothrud, Pune, said, “I along with two friends went to Phoenix City mall to shop yesterday at 8-9 pm. I was directed to the women’s booth for a security check. When a lady security official saw me, she reacted as if she had seen a terrorist or something shocking. She called in another lady security guard, who gave the exact same reaction as her colleague. Both later called the security chief of the mall.”
Dalvi, who has a post-graduation in finance and works for Ashirvad, an NGO that works in transgender rights, said, “The security chief told me that the mall has a policy to not to allow transgender persons in the mall. I asked to see the policy, but they did not share it with me. I argued for a long time over why they would not allow me in.”
She said, “I did not go there to beg, nor was I indecently dressed. Since I am educated and I have been working for a social organisation, I am aware of my rights. But many from my community are not allowed in malls and multiplexes, and they are not even aware of what to do when they are being discriminated against.”
The mall authorities denied charges of discrimination. In a statement, the management said,
“This incident took place last evening and we would like to clarify that the concerned person was allowed to enter the mall premises within no time. The person in question was asked for verification by the security guards and directed to the desired destination in less than five minutes. We regret any inconvenience caused to the customer but security precautions are part of the process.
We would also like to clearly state that we neither had nor have any intentions of hurting sentiments or discriminating anyone basis their caste or gender. In fact we strongly believe in inclusive society. It’s a public place and everyone is welcome!”
Shyam Konnur, an activist who works for the rights of the LGBT community, said, “This is not new. LGBT people often face discrimination at public places. However, according to Article 43 of the constitution, there should be no discrimination at public places like malls, cinema halls or restaurants.”
He said, “Last year, my partner and I were not allowed into a showroom in Pune. We had to argue a lot before they allowed us to enter. But we felt depressed and left the showroom. I also had a similar experience at a mall in Hyderabad.”
Dalvi said, “I have contacted a lawyer who fights human rights cases and, along with other transgender persons, will file a case against the mall management.”
Konnur too said he would organise a protest outside the mall “so that other malls and outlets would get the message that they cannot discriminate against anyone from the LGBT community”.
Bindumadhav Khire, a social activist from Pune who also works for the rights of the LGBT community, said, “Sadly, transgender persons are discriminated against despite the Supreme Court verdict that they are the third gender. We are in 2018 and we need to change our attitudes.”
Varsha Torgalkar is an independent journalist based in Pune.