Gopi Shankar Madurai

Last updated

Gopi Shankar Madurai
Gopi Shankar Madurai at WorldPride SUMMIT Madrid 01.jpg
Gopi Shankar Madurai at WorldPride Madrid Summit, Spain (June 2017)
Born (1991-04-13) 13 April 1991 (age 33)
Madurai, India
Education American College, Madurai
Occupation(s)Writer, Speaker, Equal Rights Activist
Awards The Commonwealth Nations Youth Worker Award 2016, HCR Queen's Young Leader Award 2017.

Gopi Shankar Madurai (born 13 April 1991) [1] is an Indian equal rights and Indigenous rights activist. [2] Shankar was one of the youngest, and the first openly intersex and genderqueer statutory authority and one of the candidates to contest in 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election. [3] [4] [5] [6] Shankar is also the founder of Srishti Madurai Student Volunteer Collective. [7] Shankar's work inspired the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) to direct the Government of Tamil Nadu to order a ban on forced sex-selective surgeries on intersex infants. [8] In December 2017, Shankar was elected to the executive board of ILGA Asia. [9] [10] [11] In August 2020, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment appointed Shankar as the South Regional representative in the National Council for Transgender Persons. [12]

Contents

Early life

Shankar was born as Sarvapunya in Sellur slum at Madurai, Tamil Nadu. At the age of fourteen, Shankar started volunteering Ramakrishna Mission. Later Shankar was accepted as a probationer for being a monk at Ramakrishna Math. In 2005, Shankar was given spiritual initiation under the spiritual lineage of Swami Vivekananda by Swami Gitanandaji (Former Vice-president of Ramakrishna Math and Mission) who is also a disciple of Swami Virajananda. During Shankar's tenure in Ramakrishna Math, Shankar served as the assistant to the editor of Sri Ramakrishna Vijayam Magazine. [13]

In April 2010 Shankar left Ramakrishna Math to pursue Religion, Philosophy, and Sociology studies at The American College in Madurai (affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University). Gopi is a student of Yoga for more than 15 years and served as Yoga Instructor for 5 years. Shankar taught Yoga for free to more than 5000 children and Indian Philosophy class for many westerners including Tony MacMahon of Ireland. Shankar partly freelanced the New Horizon Media Pvt Ltd (Tamil Publications). [6] Shankar was awarded a Leadership Degree "Leading Change" exclusively for The Queen's Young Leaders from the University of Cambridge in 2017. [14]

Social activism

Shankar is founder of Srishti Madurai Volunteer Movement [15] one of the first inclusive non-funded pro bono group of its kind which has involved academicians, Independent scholars, human rights activist, environmentalists, animal rights activists and LGBTQIA, genderqueer activists aiming to protect the Indigenous traditions. In October 2011 Shankar launched India's first helpline for genderqueer, LGBTQIA people at Madurai. Later in June 2013 the helpline turned to offer service for 24 hours with a tagline Just having someone understanding to talk to can save a life. [16] Shankar also organized Asia's first Genderqueer Pride Parade at Madurai. [17] [18] [19] Shankar also introduced LGBTQIA courses in few schools and universities curricula. [20] Shankar was also a young panelist to share chair in University Grants Commission of India (UGC) and Indian Council of Social Sciences Research (ICSSR) sponsored National Seminars in India, Shankar conducted more than 85 Seminars, Interactive sessions on Gender & Sexuality for 8000 students in Madurai. [21] Shankar coined the regional Tamil terms for genderqueer people [22] and wrote Maraikkappatta Pakkangal the first book [23] on Gender-Variants in Tamil. [24] [25] [26] In April 2015, Shankar was invited by Tiruchi Siva to witness the passing of historical Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014 at Rajya Sabha upper house of the Parliament of India. For contributions as a gender minority to Hinduism, Shankar was presented "Young Hindu Award" by writer Aravindan Neelakandan, Joe D Cruz at 6th Hindu Spiritual Services Fair. [27]

Gopi Shankar M speaking on Intersex and Medical Violations at Autonomous University of Madrid with Katrina Karkazis of Stanford University School of Medicine & Carlos Duarte from Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Portugal) WorldPride Madrid Summit discussion on INTERSEX RIGHTS AND MEDICAL VIOLENC.jpg
Gopi Shankar M speaking on Intersex and Medical Violations at Autonomous University of Madrid with Katrina Karkazis of Stanford University School of Medicine & Carlos Duarte from Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Portugal)

Shankar petitioned the case of Asian Games medalist Santhi Soundarajan who was stripped of her medal after a gender test to the State and Central Government. [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] Shankar launched multiple complaints on behalf of athlete Santhi in National Commission for Scheduled Castes and National Human Rights Commission of India also initiated Justice For Santhi Campaign which was instrumental in fetching her a permanent posting as athletic coach in Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority in December 2016. [34]

Asia's first genderqueer Pride Parade at Madurai Gopi Shankar M with Anjali Gopalan Anjali gopalan.jpg
Asia's first genderqueer Pride Parade at Madurai Gopi Shankar M with Anjali Gopalan

Shankar was a speaker at WorldPride Madrid Summit 2017. Shankar shared chair with Federico Mayor Zaragoza Director-General of UNESCO, Myrna Cunningham of United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and Zanele Muholi (Artivist) for the historic MADRID SUMMIT DECLARATION. [36] [37]

The State Council of Educational Research and Training under Government of Tamil Nadu has called Shankar to give inputs on Sex, Gender and Sexuality studies for the 2017 New School Curriculum Development Committee of Tamil Nadu to include LGBTQIA+ community in school studies. [38] Shankar was also part of the panel on Theological Reader on Gender & Sexuality for National Council of Churches in India. [39]

Shankar is one of the founding members of Intersex Asia, it is the Asia's first collective forum for Intersex Individuals and organisations, [40] [41] the first state policy briefing on Intersex Human Rights was organised by Shankar in July 2019. [42]

In 2020 Gopi was one of the leading petitioners in the Delhi High Court case (Abhijit Iyer Mitra & Ors v. UOI) to recognize non-heterosexual marriages, and same sex union under the Hindu Marriage Act. [43]

Transgender activism

Shankar through Srishti Madurai helpline rescued several trans women from forced sex work and begging. [44] Shankar also mentors the Transgender India forum India's first 24x7 holistic help and support discussion forum for intersex and transgender people, as well as their families. [45]

Shankar and a trans woman S. Swapna [46] staged a protest in Madurai collectorate on 7 October 2013 demanding reservation and to permit alternate genders to appear for examinations conducted by TNPSC, UPSC, SSC and Bank Exams. Later, Swapna successfully moved the Madras High Court in 2013 seeking permission to write the TNPSC Group II exam as a ‘woman’ candidate. [47]

As the south regional representative of National Council for Transgender Persons Gopi ensured justice for transgender persons on various civil and human rights related cases. [48] Gopi ensured inheritance rights for Transgender people [49] and invoked Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 along with The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 in several cases dealing with sexual abuse of gender non confirming children in the Southern states of India. [50]

In March 2022, The Hindu newspaper reported that Shankar resigned from the post of the south regional representative of NCTP, citing bureaucratic harassment and insensitivity. The newspaper quoted Shankar saying that the ‘ceremonial’ position was not serving the needs of the transgender community.But later Shankar said to be not resign till the tenure is over and still continues as the statutory authority. [51]

Death threats and attacks

In 2016, Shankar was sexually, verbally harassed and received death threats from a member of one of the political parties during Shankar's campaign, after which the Tamil Nadu Police assigned Shankar with three security officers whenever Shankar was out campaigning. [52] Shankar also expressed dismay on homophobia and transphobia in Tamil Muslim community when the youth wing of the Indian National League, a Muslim party, accusing LGBTQIA+ people of being "cultural terrorists", the poster calls for the "death sentence under section 377" and warns of terror against the community as homosexuality is "against Tamil culture" was put up by a day after Orlando nightclub shooting in the United States. [53] [54]

In January 2022, Shankar was threatened by members of a certain political party (allegedly DMK [55] ) in Mamallapuram. [56] In November 2022, Shankar was attacked by an unknown group of six people in New Delhi. [57] [58] The attackers first demanded money, and when they were refused, they abused and physically assaulted Shankar. This was the fifth instance of violence that Shankar suffered. [59] [60] [61]

Protection for intersex people in India

In 2015 Shankar urged Indian parliament to include intersex people in bill protecting trans rights, [62] Shankar also launched an official complaint to National Human Rights Commission of India to ban the forced sex selective surgeries on intersex infants also to ensure their fundamental constitutional rights in India for which the NHRC issued directions to the Secretary Union Health Ministry Government of India to respond to Shankar within eight weeks. [63] [64] [65] [66] [67]

On 22 April 2019 the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) passed a landmark judgment [68] and issued direction to ban Sex-Selective Surgeries on Intersex Infants based on the works of Gopi Shankar, [69] the Court took note of the issue of the rampant practice of compulsory sex reassignment surgeries performed on inter-sex infants and children. The Court also expressed its gratitude to Shankar, noting that Shankar's work has had been a "humbling and enlightening experience for the Court". [70] [71]

In September 2019 Gopi submitted an official report to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities committee on LGBTQI community living with disabilities and the key focus of the report was on Intersex persons in India. [72] In turn the CRPD committee delivered a strong recommendation to the Government of India. [73]

In October 2020 the Delhi Commission For Protection of Child Rights appointed Gopi and Anjali Gopalan as two expert advisors for a case pertaining to Intersex Human Rights violations. Based on the recommendations of Gopi the DCPCR suggested the Delhi Government to ban unnecessary medical interventions on Intersex Infants and Children. [74]

Awards and accolades

Shankar was also awarded the Diversity Leadership Award 2016 by the World HRD Congress [75] and featured in ‘India’s 8 LGBT role models under 30’ by Gaysi for voicing intersex rights in India. [76] Out Leadership recommended Gopi Shankar as one of the expert and openly advocating leaders on LGBT+ issues along with Indian Minister Arun Jaitley and human rights activist Anjali Gopalan [77] India Times listed Shankar as one of the 11 Human Rights Activists Whose Life Mission Is To Provide Others With A Dignified Life [78]

YearAwardHonouring bodyNotes
2016The Commonwealth Youth Worker Award [85] The Commonwealth, London [86] Awarded for using arts and sports as a social tool to empower young people with positive alternate space [87]
YearTitleHonouring bodyNotes
2017Highly Commended Runner Queen's Young Leader Award 2017 [85] Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, in partnership with Comic Relief and the Royal Commonwealth Society.Recognised as agent of change for the remarkable work done by Shankar in LGBTQIA community. [14]

Media

GOPI a Brazilian/English Documentary movie on Shankar's life directed by Viviane D'Avilla was premiered at Festival do Rio 2018 have won multiple awards. [88] [89]

Shankar appeared on Living Foodz Dakshin Diaries to curate the gender specific sacred spaces of Indigenous gender-variants of ancient India. [90] [91]

Singer Chinmayi produced a three part YouTube video series with Shankar to support Intersex Human Rights in Tamil Nadu.

Bibliography

Author

Contributor

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American College, Madurai</span> Co-educational college in India

The American College, often referred to as American College, is one of the oldest colleges in India, located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. It was founded in 1881 by American Christian missionaries. The red-brick buildings, in the Saracenic style, blend with the natural surroundings constructed by British architect Henry Irwin. Century-old buildings Main Hall, James Hall and Washburn Hall show the heritage of the college.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santhi Soundarajan</span> Indian athlete

Santhi Soundarajan is a track and field athlete from Tamil Nadu, India. She is the winner of 12 international medals for India and around 50 medals for her home state of Tamil Nadu. Shanthi Soundarajan is the first Tamil woman to win a medal at the Asian Games. She competes in middle distance track events. She was stripped of a silver medal won at the 2006 Asian Games after failing a sex verification test which disputed her eligibility to participate in the women's competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in India</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights in India have expanded in the 21st century, though much of India's advancements on LGBT rights have come from the judiciary and not the legislature. Indian LGBT citizens still face social and legal difficulties not experienced by non-LGBT people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Tamil Nadu</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Tamil Nadu are the most progressive among all states of India. Tamil Nadu was the first state in India to introduce a transgender welfare policy, wherein transgender individuals can access free gender affirmation surgery in government hospitals and various other benefits and rights. The state was also the first to ban forced sex-selective surgeries on intersex infants, and also the first state to include an amendment in its state police guidelines that expects officers to abstain from harassing the LGBTQIA+ community and its members. The state also became the first to ban conversion therapy as well as the first to introduce LGBTQIA+ issues in school curricula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT culture in India</span>

India's LGBTQ culture has recently progressed in its cities due to the growing acceptance of the LGBTQ community in urban India in the 21st century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anjali Gopalan</span> Indian human rights and animal rights activist

Anjali Gopalan is an Indian human rights and animal rights activist, founder and executive director of The Naz Foundation (India) Trust, an NGO dedicated to the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in India mainly focused on women and children. Anjali began working on issues related to HIV/AIDS and marginalized communities in the United States. In 2012, Time magazine placed Gopalan on its list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe D'Cruz</span> Tamil writer

R. N. Joe D'Cruz is a Tamil writer, novelist and documentary film director from Tamil Nadu, India. He won the Sahitya Akademi award in 2013 in the Tamil language category for his novel Korkai. He is the Tamil Nadu state president of Samskrita Bharati.

This is a timeline of notable events in the history of non-heterosexual conforming people of South Asian ancestry, who may identify as LGBTIQGNC, men who have sex with men, or related culturally-specific identities such as Hijra, Aravani, Thirunangaigal, Khwajasara, Kothi, Thirunambigal, Jogappa, Jogatha, or Shiva Shakti. The recorded history traces back at least two millennia.

Chennai has LGBTQIA cultures that are diverse concerning- socio-economic class, gender, and degree of visibility and politicisation. They have historically existed in the margins and surfaced primarily in contexts such as transgender activism and HIV prevention initiatives for men having sex with men (MSM) and trans women (TG).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orinam</span>

Orinam is a non-funded, social, and activist collective that works to enhance understanding of alternate sexualities and gender identities among families, communities and society. It was founded in 2003 in Chennai under the name MovenPick and is one of the oldest collective of its kind in India. People affiliated with Orinam are from or trace their ancestry to the following geo-cultural: People of Tamil Origin from Tamil Nadu, India. Orinam provides a platform for creative expression, personal and social commentary by Queer people of Tamil Origin and of Indian Origin primarily. Orinam also acts as a local support group in Chennai for the queer community. Orinam also partners with the city-, state- and national initiatives around decriminalisation of homosexuality by amending Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and LGBTQ rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election</span> Member of Legislative Assembly

The Fifteenth Legislative Assembly Election was held on 16 May 2016 for the 232 seats of the Legislative Assembly in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The AIADMK under J. Jayalalithaa won the elections and became the first ruling party to be re-elected in Tamil Nadu since 1984, though with a simple majority. The DMK won half of the seats it contested but its allies performed poorly; notably, the Indian National Congress won 16% of the seats they contested, and the alliance lost due to its poor performance. The votes were counted on 19 May 2016. In the previous election in 2011, AIADMK, under the leadership of Jayalalithaa, won a thumping majority and formed the government, while DMDK chief Vijayakanth served as the Leader of Opposition until January 2016. This was the last election that J. Jayalalithaa and M. Karunanidhi contested, as they both died in 2016 and 2018 respectively.

S Swapna, is the first transgender Gazetted Officer in India. She is also the first transgender person to take the civil services TNPSC recruitment exam for public service employees in the Tamil Nadu state. Swapna is serving as Assistant commissioner of Commercial Tax Department in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil sexual minorities are Tamil people who do not conform to heterosexual gender norms. They may identify as LGBTQIA. It has been estimated that India has a population of 2.5 million homosexuals, though not all of them are Tamil, and not all Tamils live in India.

The following list is a partially completed compilation of events considered to have a profound effect on the welfare or image of Tamil sexual minorities. The use of bold typeface indicates that the event is widely considered to be landmark:

Srishti Madurai was established on 2 September 2011 by Gopi Shankar Madurai as the first genderqueer and LGBT student volunteer group designed to address the problems of LGBT people in the non-metro cities of Tamil Nadu. In October 2011 Srishti Madurai launched India's first helpline for intersex, genderqueer, and LGBT people at Madurai. In June 2013 the helpline turned to offer service for 24 hours with a tagline "Just having someone understanding to talk to can save a life". Srishti Madurai also organized Asia's first Genderqueer Pride Parade at Madurai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Council for Transgender Persons</span> Indian statutory body governing policies supporting transgender, intersex and LGBTQ+ people

The National Council for Transgender Persons (NCTP) is the statutory body of the Government of India, generally concerned with advising the government on all policy matters affecting transgender and intersex persons, as well as people with diverse GIESC identities. It was established in 2020 under the provisions of the Transgender Persons Act, 2019.

<i>Arun Kumar v. Inspector General of Registration</i> Indian LGBT Rights Case Law

Arun Kumar &Anr. versus Inspector General of Registration&Ors. (2019) is a decision of the Madras High Court which recognised trans woman as a "bride" within the meaning of the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 and prohibited genital-normalizing surgery for intersex infants and children except on life-threatening situations.

References

  1. ↑ "Gopi Shankar Madurai". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  2. ↑ "Profile of Speakers: Gopi Shankar Madurai at Madrid Summit 2017" – via www.worldpridemadrid2017, Spain.
  3. ↑ "Intersex person to contest from Madurai North". The Hindu. 30 April 2016.
  4. ↑ Menon, Priya (22 April 2016). "3rd gender gets a new champion in Tamil Nadu poll ring". Times of India.
  5. ↑ "Meet and Understand The First Genderqueer Candidate in Indian Politics". bodahub.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  6. 1 2 "This intersex person is contesting TN polls, 'ze' wants to change your mind on sexual minorities - The News Minute". 24 April 2016.
  7. 1 2 "One Who Fights For an Other". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015.
  8. ↑ "Start with education system for change, says intersex activist- The Indian Express". 6 June 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  9. ↑ "ILGA Asia Executive Board" . Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  10. ↑ "Is the LGBTQ+ movement an elitist club?". DNA. 14 January 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  11. ↑ "Intersex activist Gopi Shankar Madurai to speak at ILGA Asia regional conference in Cambodia". The Times of India. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "Madurai-based intersex activist in national statutory body". The New Indian Express. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  13. ↑ "In Conversation With Gopi Shankar Madurai, The Intersex Activist Who Is Changing Lives And Gender Politics In India". Gaysi. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  14. 1 2 "Queen's Young Leader Award 2017". Queens Young Leaders. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  15. ↑ "Genderqueers seek recognition-Madurai News - Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  16. ↑ "24-hour helpline launched for LGBTs in Madurai | Madurai News - Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  17. ↑ Shankar, M. Gopi (21 June 2012). "Voices unheard - Madurai - The Hindu". The Hindu. thehindu.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  18. ↑ "South India city of Madurai celebrates LGBT (and more) Pride". gaystarnews.com. 31 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  19. ↑ Karthikeyan, D. (30 July 2012). "Madurai comes out of the closet - The Hindu". The Hindu. thehindu.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  20. ↑ Shrikumar, A. (23 October 2014). "Making gender flexible - The Hindu". The Hindu. thehindu.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  21. ↑ Shankar, M. Gopi (6 July 2012). "Making themselves heard - Madurai - The Hindu". The Hindu. thehindu.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  22. 1 2 Hamid, Zubeda (14 January 2018). "A Tamil book on gender identities, sexual orientations". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  23. ↑ Menon, Priya (13 January 2018). "Book in Tamil sets things straight about LGBT community". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  24. ↑ "BJP leader launches LGBT rights book in TN". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  25. ↑ Shrikumar, A. (18 October 2013). "No more under siege - The Hindu". The Hindu. thehindu.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  26. ↑ "Madurai student pens book on gender variants - Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  27. ↑ "It's a great honour to be awarded for book on gender variants: Gopi Shankar - Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  28. ↑ "INTERSEX RIGHTS AND MEDICAL VIOLENCE". WorldPride Madrid. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  29. ↑ "Santhi Set To Fight For Justice Jan 03, 2017, 19:43 IST, Times Now". Timesnow.tv. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  30. ↑ "Ministry of sports served notice on Santhi Soundarajan's complaint". espn.in. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  31. ↑ "Santhi's plea". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 21 December 2014.
  32. ↑ "Why We Should Join The Campaign Seeking Justice For Runner Shanthi Soundarajan". huffingtonpost.in. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  33. ↑ "Santhi set to rebuild life as official athletic coach - The Hindu". The Hindu. thehindu.com. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  34. ↑ "Human rights body rejects Santhi Soundarajan's complaint, claims it's too late to accept it". The News Minute. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  35. ↑ "Worldwide gay rights as a social movement picks up". merinews.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  36. ↑ "Madurai gender rights activist to speak at Madrid". The Hindu . India. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  37. ↑ "CLOSING: FUTURE ACHIEVEMENTS AND NEEDS TO BUILD A STRONG LGBTQIA+ MOVEMENT AROUND THE WORLD". WorldPride . Spain. Archived from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  38. ↑ Sujatha, R. (17 July 2017). "Bursting myths on gender". The Hindu. The Hindu, National. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  39. ↑ "LGBTQIA Class for the Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary". TheNewsMinute, National. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  40. ↑ "Intersex Asia Network Launched". The Times of India. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  41. ↑ "Gopi Shankar to speak at 40th ILGA World Conference in New Zealand". The Times of India. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  42. ↑ "Policy Meeting on Intersex Rights to be held= The Times of India". The Times of India . 5 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  43. ↑ "Delhi High Court asks Centre to respond to plea to recognise same sex marriages under law". The Economic Times. 19 November 2020.
  44. ↑ "Transgenders escape flesh trade hub - Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  45. ↑ "Transgenders get their own portal - Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  46. ↑ "Transgenders protest demanding name change in certificates". The Times of India. 29 April 2014.
  47. ↑ "Transgenders stage protest at collectorate". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 16 October 2013.
  48. ↑ "Caught between binaries". The Times of India . Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  49. ↑ Chandar, B. Tilak (13 November 2020). "After 8 years, Madurai transwoman gets a share of mother's property - The Hindu". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  50. ↑ Antony, Kathelene (28 November 2020). "Three transwomen booked - The Hindu". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  51. ↑ Nainar, Nahla (24 March 2022). "Gopi Shankar resigns from National Council for Transgender Persons". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  52. ↑ "Intersex candidate alleges harassment – Times of India". The Times of India .
  53. ↑ "Muslim party in Tamil Nadu wants death sentence for gays, calls them 'cultural terrorists' – satyavijayi.com".
  54. ↑ "Madurai Muslim party wants death sentence for gays, calls them 'cultural terrorists'? – The News Minute". 15 June 2016.
  55. ↑ "'Cars had stickers of DMK leaders': Pro-Hindutva LGBTQ activist Gopi Shankar Madurai survives fourth attack, appeals to PM Modi for help". Alturi. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  56. ↑ Bureau, The Hindu (22 January 2022). "Transgender activist threatened in Mamallapuram". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  57. ↑ "LGBTQI+ Activist Brutally Attacked in Delhi, Friends Say 'Not the First Time'". The Quint. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  58. ↑ "Intersex Asia stands in solidarity with Gopi Shankar". The Hindu.
  59. ↑ "Repeated And Unchecked Attacks On Public Queer Activist Raises Questions About State Of GBV In India". Gaysi. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  60. ↑ "Statement: Intersex Asia condemns violence against Gopi Shankar Madurai and calls for the protection of intersex activists". www.intersexasia.org. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  61. ↑ "Fifth attack on me: intersex activist". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  62. ↑ "India urged to include intersex people in bill protecting trans rights · PinkNews". pinknews.co.uk. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  63. ↑ "Activists say surgical 'correction' of intersex babies at birth wrong, govt doesn't listen | The News Minute". thenewsminute.com. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  64. ↑ NHRC, Case No: 2365/22/15/2016
  65. ↑ "Rights of transgender: Let me be 'me' -Governance Now". governancenow.com. 4 September 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  66. ↑ ""Inter-sex people are not transgenders" - The Hindu". The Hindu. thehindu.com. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  67. ↑ "Why intersex folks need recognition - Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  68. ↑ ""Transwoman A 'Bride' Under Hindu Marriage Act": Madras HC; Also Bans Sex Re-Assignment Surgeries On Intersex Children [Read Judgment]". 23 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  69. ↑ ""Ban sex reassignment surgeries on intersex infants Madras High Court tells Tamil Nadu Govt" - The News Minute". 23 April 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  70. ↑ "Ruling on intersex infants: Madurai activist comes in for praise by High Court". The Times of India . Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  71. ↑ "Indian Court Decides In Favor of Informed Consent Rights for Intersex People - Human Rights Watch". 29 April 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  72. ↑ "Momentous Achievements for Intersex Rights in India" . Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  73. ↑ "UN panel's recommendations for intersex children hailed". The Hindu. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  74. ↑ "DCPCR recommends ban on sex assignment surgeries on intersex children in Delhi". The Times of India . Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  75. ↑ "Global HR Excellence Awards". World HRD Congress 2016.
  76. ↑ Gaysi (2 May 2016). "LGBT Activists under 30". Gaysi Family. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  77. ↑ 2017 OUT LEADERSHIP REPORT. "Out Leadership India/" (PDF). outleadership.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  78. ↑ Anjali Bisaria (7 September 2017). "11 Human Rights Activists Whose Life Mission Is To Provide Others With A Dignified Life/". Indiatimes.com.
  79. ↑ "Gopi Shankar conferred Children's Champion Award-The Hindu".
  80. ↑ "HERO Awards 2021 Community Partners APN+, APTN and ILGA Asia Unveil much anticipated honourees list - Page 4 of 12 - APCOM". 15 October 2021.
  81. ↑ "HRC Foundation Introduces 2020 Global Innovators - HRC".
  82. ↑ https://twitter.com/gopishankarmdu/status/1010849285011693569 [ dead link ]
  83. ↑ "Srishti Madurai : My New Family, Policy Boot Camp - Gopi Shankar Madurai".
  84. ↑ Vagabomb (3 June 2017). "16 People from the LGBTQIA Community Who Are Inspiring Us Everyday". ScoopWhoop Media.
  85. 1 2 Basu, Soma (12 April 2017). "Gender activist Gopi Shankar on the struggles faced by the LGBTQIA community in India - The Hindu". The Hindu. thehindu.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  86. ↑ "Finalists of 2016 Commonwealth Youth Worker Awards announced | The Commonwealth". thecommonwealth.org. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  87. ↑ "Gender rights activist shortlisted for international award - Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  88. ↑ "Gopi Documentário" . Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  89. ↑ "Global Shorts Program: Gopi" . Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  90. ↑ "Dakshin Diaries chef Rakesh Raghunathan with Gopi in Madurai" . Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  91. ↑ "Chef Rakesh Raghunathan traces South India beyond idli, dosa and medu vada". 24 March 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  92. ↑ "Meet the BJP leader who released a book on LGBT rights". The News Minute. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.