Trans women are women, Indian court rules

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has issued a landmark ruling affirming that transgender women are legally recognized as women in India, irrespective of reproductive ability.

Justice Venkata Jyothirmai Pratapa dismissed the notion that womanhood is defined solely by the ability to bear children, calling it unconstitutional and contrary to fundamental rights.

The case involved a dowry harassment complaint filed by Pokala Shabana, a transgender woman, against her partner and his family.

Although the court ultimately dismissed the case due to insufficient evidence, it firmly established that trans women have the right to protections under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, which addresses cruelty by a husband or his relatives.

The decision builds on the Supreme Court’s 2014 recognition of a “third gender” and strengthens protections for trans women against domestic violence.

See Blade for more: Indian court rules a transgender woman is a woman

Photo of Prithika Yashini: India’s first transgender police officer

New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani has tentatively won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist, gained traction through grassroots activism and strong support for the trans community, in contrast to Cuomo’s ties to right-wing figures, S. Baum reports over at Erin in the Morning.

Mamdani promises $65 million in funding for gender-affirming care, protections for trans youth and providers, and the creation of an LGBTQIA+ Affairs Office.

See also: Democratic NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani Is Pledging $65 Million for Trans Health Care

The Trump administration removed transgender and inclusive Pride flags from the federally governed Stonewall National Monument, replacing them with only the traditional rainbow flag.

This decision was part of broader efforts to erase transgender visibility from public spaces and federal resources, including altering historical references like the one about trans activist Sylvia Rivera.

In response, LGBTQ+ activists and New Yorkers have staged acts of resistance, bringing their own trans flags to the site and creating impromptu tributes.

S. Baum reports on the Stonewall National Monument flags over at Erin in the Morning.

Strong Majority of Canadians Continue to Support 2SLGBT+ Rights and Visibility

A new Ipsos survey finds that a strong majority of Canadians continue to support 2SLGBT+ rights and visibility.

Compared to 2024, support has increased across various areas including same-sex marriage, adoption rights, and protection against discrimination.

Canada now ranks higher than the 26-country average, especially when it comes to companies promoting 2SLGBT+ equality.

Visibility of 2SLGBT+ people in media, sports, and public affection also saw increased support after a dip the previous year.

However, when it comes to transgender-specific issues, the landscape is more mixed. While most Canadians support anti-discrimination protections for transgender individuals, fewer are in favor of health insurance covering gender transition.

Ipsos has more

Victory: American trans people may again get passports with their correct gender marker

A federal judge has granted class action status to all transgender individuals challenging the U.S. passport policy that restricts updating gender markers.

This major legal win means the case, initially brought by a few plaintiffs, now applies broadly to trans applicants seeking accurate “M,” “F,” or “X” designations.

The court found the policy was motivated by bias and harms trans people’s ability to travel safely. Though appeals may delay implementation, those needing to renew or update passports are advised to consider acting quickly.

The ACLU celebrated the ruling as a critical step toward privacy, dignity, and equal treatment under federal law.

Video of Zaya from Laverne Cox on Instagram. Cox writes: “A day at a time, we keep fighting. Thank you Zaya and everyone at the aclu as well as all the plaintiffs.”

Zaya Perrysian on Insta.

Federal Judge Grants Class Status To Trans People In Passport Case In Massive Win

The US Supreme Court violates all logic in transgender health care ruling

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors in a 6–3 decision in United States v. Skrmetti.

The Court’s majority avoided addressing whether anti-trans laws violate the Equal Protection Clause or if transgender people constitute a protected class.

Instead, it ruled narrowly, allowing bans based on gender dysphoria, gender identity disorder or gender incongruence, and distinguishing this from discrimination against transgender identity—creating what critics call a legal loophole for discrimination.

The dissent, led by Justice Sotomayor, sharply criticized the majority’s rationale, arguing that the Tennessee law clearly discriminates based on both sex and transgender status.

She noted that the law allows puberty-related treatments for cisgender adolescents but not for transgender youth, despite using identical medications.

In other words: The logic is that since both cis and trans people can suffer from gender dysphoria (which is not true), the ban is not discriminatory.

But to the extent cis children do suffer from something similar to gender dysphoria (as caused, for instance, by hormonal imbalances leading to body hair growth in girls and breast growth in boys), the treatment of such “dysphoria” is not banned.

The hypocrisy is mind-boggling.

Sotomayor compares this rationale to that used in Loving v. Virginia, a ruling which struck down laws against interracial marriage:

“But nearly every discriminatory law is susceptible to a similarly race- or sex-neutral characterization. A prohibition on interracial marriage, for example, allows no person to marry someone outside of her race, while allowing persons of any race to marry within their race….

Although the ruling only affects medical care, it sets a worrying precedent for future legislation targeting trans rights. Some justices indicated they’d support even broader rollbacks. Still, other court decisions protecting trans rights in areas like passports, education, and funding remain intact—for now.

• SCOTUS Allows For Trans Discrimination In Medical Care: A Full Analysis Of Today’s Ruling
• Supreme Court on transition treatments for minors
• The Supreme Court’s incoherent new attack on trans rights, explained
• ‘Your Right to Care Is Not Affected By This Decision’: Blue State AGs Push Back Against Anti-trans Ruling
• What Does Skrmetti Mean For The Future? An In-Depth Analysis.
• My Daughter Was at the Center of the Supreme Court Case on Trans Care. Our Hearts Are Broken.
• U.S. Supreme Court Lawyers who fought gender affirming care ban at the Supreme Court remain optimistic

What we can learn from the new US transgender survey

Doc Impossible explores findings from the 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS)—the largest study of its kind with over 92,000 respondents.

She explains that the survey used snowball sampling, primarily through social media, which means it’s not fully representative but still offers substantial insights.

Key takeaways include persistent mistreatment and disrespect in healthcare settings, with 47% of respondents reporting transphobia in the past year and 21% avoiding care due to anticipated discrimination.

Doc Impossible writes:

“Healthcare providers tend to treat us crappier than they treat cis people, and it shows up in our overall health. We’re much more likely to evaluate our health as “fair” or “poor” than the general population, and 47% of us were disrespected in the last year for being trans.”

Despite these challenges, nearly 60% had started some medical transition, and over 88% desired hormone therapy—though access often remains difficult and costly.

Doc Impossible discusses the devastating mental health impact of social discrimination, with high rates of depression and thoughts about self harm, particularly linked to family rejection and violence.

However, regret after medical transition remains extremely rare:

“9% of respondents, so almost 1 in 10, detransitioned at some point. When you dive into those numbers, though, virtually all of them had detransitioned due to safety, social support, or for employment. Only 0.36% of those who’d medically transitioned at any point detransitioned at all, for any reason.”

The survey reaffirms that trans people are who they say they are, and that the greatest barriers they face are not internal, but social and systemic.

“What we’re learning about being trans from the 2022 US Transgender Survey”

See also:
“Largest Trans Survey Ever: Top Reason Trans People Stop Transitioning Is Transphobia”
“Survey of over 90,000 trans people shows vast improvement in life satisfaction after transition”
U.S. Trans Survey

A Conversation article discusses the connection between opposition to transgender rights and authoritarian attitudes that prioritize social conformity.

Donald Trump’s aggressive policies, including banning transgender individuals from military service and restricting gender-affirming care, and the surge in anti-trans legislation across the U.S., reflect increasing hostility against trans people.

Tatishe Nteta and colleagues have explored how authoritarianism, defined as a preference for obedience and uniformity, contributes to support for these measures.

Using survey data, they find that Americans with authoritarian leanings are more likely to favor restrictions on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The analysis reveals that while political ideology, partisanship, and religiosity play roles in this support, authoritarian attitudes remain a strong predictor.

They argue that these efforts are not isolated but are part of broader movements seen in authoritarian regimes, where targeting marginalized groups helps consolidate political power.

The Maine Senate has rejected legislation aimed at banning transgender girls from participating in school sports and using gender-specific facilities.

The bill, LD 1134, was defeated in a 21-14 vote, with one Republican senator, Rick Bennett, joining Democrats in opposition. Supporters of the bill argued it was about fairness in athletics, citing biological differences, while opponents contended it was an exclusionary measure that would harm transgender youth.

Another bill, LD 380, which sought to restrict access to gender-affirming health care for minors aged 16 and older, was also voted down by the same margin.

Advocates against the bill emphasized that current laws were passed after thorough debate and should not be overturned. Hundreds of supporters for transgender rights attended a recent public hearing, highlighting concerns about discrimination.

New US survey shows that transitioning leads to more happiness and better health among trans people

Survey shows that the main reason trans people stop transitioning is transphobia.

Over at Erin in the Morning S. Baum presents findings from the largest survey ever conducted on trans health in the U.S., the 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey, led by Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE).

Over 84,000 trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming individuals participated, providing a comprehensive look at their experiences.

One major finding challenges the “detransition regret” narrative often pushed by right-wing politicians and media.

The study reveals that only 0.36% of transitioned individuals chose to stop transitioning due to personal realization—while most did so because of social pressure, discrimination, or lack of support from their families and communities.

The survey highlights the life-saving benefits of gender-affirming care, with 98% of respondents who received hormone therapy and 97% who underwent gender-affirming surgery reporting increased life satisfaction.

It also shows disparities in healthcare access among trans individuals, particularly affecting trans people of color. Mental health challenges remain a concern, with 44% of respondents meeting criteria for serious psychological distress, far above the 4% national average.

S. Baum: “Largest Trans Survey Ever: Top Reason Trans People Stop Transitioning Is Transphobia”

US Trans Survey
PDF of report here.

Image: Gender Spectrum