A trans man has won a court battle to have his records updated to reflect his gender
A transgender man in India has won the right to have his records updated to reflect his gender identity.
A man, who wishes to remain anonymous, petitioned the Madras High Court in order to change records that he had obtained before transitioning.
The software engineer largely sought out the change to for his school and college records so as they would match up to more current records.
He had obtained a computer science and engineering degree in 2012, but he had not yet come out as trans by the time it came to graduating.
He was forced to petition the high court to enact the changes to his records because his initial requests were denied by authorities who originally distributed the certificates and records.
They were denied on the basis that it had not been done before and so they did not know which policy to follow to enact change.
The judge condemned the initial actions of authorities decision to deny the man’s requests.
The judge said that the governing bodies should not have forced Gowtham “to run from pillar to post on the ground that there were no rules available permitting such changes”.
He added that the man had provided adequate medical evidence to verify the change to records.
“He has also produced sufficient documents to prove his identity and the authorities ought to have considered his application on merit.
“In fact, the authorities, in the nature of the present case, should readily extend their helping hand rather than denying the same looking down upon them,” the judge added.
A group of transgender women have been forced to quit their government jobs because they cannot access safe or affordable housing.
Eight trans women from the Kerala region of India have resigned from their positions with Kochi Metro because they could not find suitable accommodation in the city.
An Indian university has made its courses free for trans students.
Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) took the step, seemingly a first for universities across the country, to help trans students increase the quality of their lives and improve India.
The resolution, which will take effect from this academic year after being passed with overwhelming support, covers trans students financially from undergraduate to doctorate level.
