Maneka apologises for calling transgenders 'other' ones
July 31, 2018 11:02
Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi apologised for using the term 'the other ones' to refer to members of the transgender community during a debate in the Lok Sabha, saying she did not 'snigger but was embarrassed by her own lack of knowledge'.
While discussing the inclusion of information on prevention of human trafficking in school textbooks, Maneka Gandhi, on Thursday, had called transgenders 'the other ones'.
"The Bill focuses on the victim (of trafficking). If a voluntary sex worker is not a victim, has not been trafficked, has no one to blame for his or her problem; or other ones,", she said in the Lok Sabha as it appeared that she was smirking at her categorisation.
Her comment was met by sniggering and thumping from other members in the House.The minister drew flak from all quarters for using transphobic language. Meera Sanghamitra, a member of the National Alliance for People's Movements and a transwoman, was quoted by news agency PTI as saying that Maneka Gandhi and all the MPs who 'thumped and laughed must apologise'. Sanghamitra also wrote a Facebook post calling the action 'dehumanizing'.
Her statement was also objected to by Baramati MP Supriya Sule, who in the debate in the Lok Sabha, requested her to not using othering language when referring to the transgender community.
Gandhi today apologised for using the term during the debate, saying she was not mocking the transgender community."I sincerely apologise for using the term 'other ones' during the debate on the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018, in Lok Sabha. I did not 'snigger', I was embarrassed at my own lack of knowledge," Gandhi said in a tweet.
"I was not aware of the official terminology for the transgender community," she added in another tweet.
She also announced that in future all official communication will use the term TGs for transgenders."I would like to assure that the Anti-Trafficking Bill 2018 is gender neutral and provides protection to the aggrieved," she added.
While discussing the inclusion of information on prevention of human trafficking in school textbooks, Maneka Gandhi, on Thursday, had called transgenders 'the other ones'.
"The Bill focuses on the victim (of trafficking). If a voluntary sex worker is not a victim, has not been trafficked, has no one to blame for his or her problem; or other ones,", she said in the Lok Sabha as it appeared that she was smirking at her categorisation.
Her comment was met by sniggering and thumping from other members in the House.The minister drew flak from all quarters for using transphobic language. Meera Sanghamitra, a member of the National Alliance for People's Movements and a transwoman, was quoted by news agency PTI as saying that Maneka Gandhi and all the MPs who 'thumped and laughed must apologise'. Sanghamitra also wrote a Facebook post calling the action 'dehumanizing'.
Her statement was also objected to by Baramati MP Supriya Sule, who in the debate in the Lok Sabha, requested her to not using othering language when referring to the transgender community.
Gandhi today apologised for using the term during the debate, saying she was not mocking the transgender community."I sincerely apologise for using the term 'other ones' during the debate on the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018, in Lok Sabha. I did not 'snigger', I was embarrassed at my own lack of knowledge," Gandhi said in a tweet.
"I was not aware of the official terminology for the transgender community," she added in another tweet.
She also announced that in future all official communication will use the term TGs for transgenders."I would like to assure that the Anti-Trafficking Bill 2018 is gender neutral and provides protection to the aggrieved," she added.
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