Transgender community to boycott Lok Sabha elections: Swati Bidhan Baruah

Guwahati, March 13, 2019:

Founder of All Assam Transgender Association (AATA) Swati Bidhan Baruah on Wednesday opposed the film “Outcast” based on transgenders claiming it discriminates against the community. Swati also said that the transgender community will boycott the Lok Sabha elections if the Government does not take any initiatives to implement the revised transgender policy for enrolling the transgendered persons in the electoral roll.

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Speaking on the issue of inclusion of transgender in the electoral roll for the general elections, the transgender activist said, “Presently we have an 11,000 population community to get themselves enrolled. The final voters' list has not been released by the Election Commissioner which will be released before the election, as I believe. The data will simultaneously increase up to 11 thousand but if the Government does not take any initiatives to implement the revised transgender policy than the entire transgender community will boycott the Lok Sabha elections.”

“We have opposed the film titled “Outcast” produced by some unrecognized organizations which have been not been registered and not even exempted under any income tax act, neither under 12 (A) TG and they don’t have the pan card. They are trying to make a film that hurts the feelings and emotions of the community. The poster they have released by portraying a gay as a transgender with heavy makeup and saree along with other thing has discriminated and sent a bad message to the society about the lifestyle of the transgenders”, she said.