Gopi Shankar Madurai, the South Regional Representative of the National Council for Transgender Persons, has strongly condemned and rejected the glossary published by the Tamil Nadu Government’s glossary for addressing LGBQIA+ community.
Mr. Gopi noted that the process was done without a member of the National Council for Transgender Persons (NCTP), a statutory body constituted under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 which address the grievances of Transgender and Intersex persons, and also assists the Government in policy issues.
The Glossary by the Tamil Nadu Government has been released following the order of the Madras High Court who had referred to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 in their judgement.
Mr. Gopi said that the glossary released by the Tamil Nadu Government is refuting the prolonged use of regional terms for addressing the LGBTQIA+ community provided by Srishti Madurai, an organization that ze founded to address issues of intersex people.
Gopi noted that Srishti Madurai is the first organisation in Tamil Nadu, which came up with the regional terms for addressing the diverse SOGIESC (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expressions and Sex Characteristics) identities adding that the organization even published the first book on SOGIESC communities in Tamil language called “Maraikkappatta Pakkangal” which include the terms to refer to various gender variant and diverse SOGIESC identities.
“The team involved in the formation of this glossary is highly known for their Anti-Hindu and biased views of Indian indigenous heritage and traditions. It is a counter-collaborated project with the Orinam, The News Minute and Chennai Queer Chronicle. Especially Chennai Queer Chronicle has plagiarised the terminology “Paal Puthumaiyar” which was the term originally coined by me and John Marshal in 2011 at American College in Madurai.”, Gopi said in his statement.
“We have coined the term to refer to “Genderqueer” people, however, in the present glossary, it is referring to ‘queer’ people which is completely wrong. Similarly, many terminologies coined in the glossary are not approved by etymologists and linguists, whereas the terminologies which we defined in the book “Maraikkappatta Pakkangal” was formed after discussion with several etymologists and linguists. Also, many people in the community agree with the regional terminologies mentioned in that book and respect the indigenous Gods and Indian heritage and traditions. Also, the glossary mentions the term “idaipal” or “oodupal” to refer to intersex people. This is per se derogatory and does not refer to the correct meaning for “intersex people”.”, Mr. Gopi added.
The term “Pal” refers to the sex identity of a person whereas “born as intersex” refers to the sex characteristic of a person and not a sex identity.
“The right terminology is “idailingam makkal”. Even Intersex Asia has translated and published the UNHRC factsheet in different Asian languages and included regional terms, which also refers “Intersex” as “idailingam makkal”.”, Mr. Gopi further noted in his statement.
Gopi Shankar Madurai has also completely rejected the Chennai Rainbow Pride Parade as mentioned in the Tamil Nadu Government order.
“The order is stating the Chennai Rainbow Pride Parade as “Suramariyathal Pride March” in Tamil, which translates into “Self Respect Movement Pride Parade”. Stating the Chennai Rainbow Pride Parade as the “Self Respect Movement Pride Parade” or “Suramariyathal Pride March” in the Tamil language reflects Periyarist derogatory thoughts and politics which is highly offensive as it is erasing the indigenous gender variant identities.”, Mr. Gopi noted in his statement.
“The Hindu religion includes gender-specific sacred spaces and traditions. We have wonderful Koothandavar Aravan Temple worship and a lot of gender-specific sacred spaces which are thousands of years old traditions. We must respect and preserve these indigenous gender-specific sacred spaces and traditions. It is the duty of the Government of India, the State Government of Tamil Nadu and us to preserve and respect these gender-specific sacred spaces and Indian heritage and traditions.”, he said.
Mr. Gopi said that the Tamil Nadu government has intentionally collaborated with the people who are aligned with the ruling DMK’s ideology.
Speaking to The Commune, Mr. Gopi said “This should be considered an Anti-Hindu move and act. The issuance of such a Glossary by the Tamil Nadu government is the exclusion of native indigenous gender variant identities. Also, the Tamil Nadu Government has intentionally excluded the Union Government-appointed representative for Transgender and Intersex persons (South Regional Representative for National Council for Transgender Persons). This reflects a political bias and politically motivated glossary. The Tamil Nadu Government order providing Glossary for addressing the LGBTQIA+ persons is malafide.”
“I request the Honourable Judge and other concerned people to intervene and immediately stop the usage of this glossary which is destroying indigenous culture and traditions.”, Mr. Gopi concluded.
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