Chennai: Trans Non-Binary Medic Faces Online Hate, Struggles for Acceptance

Chennai - Society has divided roles according to gender binaries of male and female. Not only are such roles restrictive and exclusive, but they also tend to have a negative impact on people. Science has proven time and again that nature is non-binary, but there are individuals who harbour wrong sentiments.

Recently, a Trans non-binary MBBS student in Chennai posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the fact that they will probably be one of the few openly proud doctors in the state of Tamil Nadu. Among the encouraging remarks, some netizens made it a point to showcase their unscientific temperament and bombard them with transphobic comments.

Vignesh, an MBBS student, posted on X, saying, "I will join the list of the first open and out trans non-binary doctors from the State of Tamil Nadu in 4-5 months. What awaits me is a legal battle to change documents and an even bigger battle for reservation and combating stigma. Hoping for the best. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈" They posted it along with a statement photo of themselves wearing a pink kurta with a doctor's coat.

Pink is associated with femininity, and a non-binary individual wearing a white coat over it challenges the omnipresent toxic masculinity in society. After some time, the post blew out of proportion and garnered more than one lakh ninety-one thousand views, bringing in all sorts of comments, including death threats and dehumanizing language.

A part of the audience had an issue with the reality that transgender non-binary persons exist. They went on to cite the age-old logic that XX chromosomes make a female and XY chromosomes make a male. Anything other than that is considered a mental illness.

One netizen went on to say, "If you become a doctor, there will be two patients in the room." According to research published in Scientific American, "biological sex isn't carved in stone but is a living system with the potential for change." One's gender is not only determined by chromosomes but also by their culture. Even then, there are individuals with different karyotypes such as XXX, XO, XXY, proving that nature is not binary. The World Health Organization itself declassified being transgender as a 'mental health disorder' and made a resolution to amend its health guidelines.

Another section of people had an issue with Vignesh talking about reservations for transgender individuals. This is not a new discussion. The National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India & Ors (NALSA) judgment, which came out in 2014, recommends reservations for the community. In the proceeding, the court emphasized the self-identification of gender. The court said to treat the transgender community as "socially and educationally backward classes of citizens and extend all kinds of reservations in cases of admission to educational institutions and for public appointments."

The community is excluded from various social, religious, and political activities. The landmark judgment also paved the way for horizontal reservations for the community in institutions, which is yet to be implemented in the nation. Due to the Sangama v State of Karnataka case, Karnataka has now become the first and only state to offer 1% horizontal reservation to transgender persons in 2021. In April 2023, transgender persons were included in the OBC category in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Various transgender activists have been fighting for this right. Reservations also become important for representation. Without queer community members in positions of power, the community will continue to face prejudice.

The student's professors and the previous Dean have knowledge about their identity, but they did not receive any public support. The only solidarity they received was from allies and certain political leaders such as Dr. Sharmila and Dalit Rights Activist and famous author Shalin Maria Lawrence.

Vignesh becoming a doctor will set a precedent for others in the community across all sectors. Stigmatizing will only lead to pushing this segment of the population deeper into the closet. According to a research paper published in the National Library of Medicine titled 'Suicide and Suicidal Behavior among Transgender Persons,' suicide rates in transgender persons are higher than in the general population.

The paper further says, "The suicide rate among transgender individuals in India is about 31%, and 50% of them have attempted suicide at least once before their 20th birthday, and 40–50 persons commit suicide every year in Karnataka state alone." There is still less data for the community compared to individuals from other sections. The paper also talked about the effect society has on individuals, stating, "The high prevalence of depression and suicidal tendencies among transgender persons seems to be highly influenced by societal stigma, lack of social support, HIV status, and violence-related issues, which require further thorough investigation and necessary mental health counseling, crisis management, addressing drug abuse, providing them livelihood opportunities, and so on as part of the intervention."

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