MANGALURU: Transgender activist Akkai Padmashali came down heavily on the central government for its neutral stand on the constitutional validity of Section 377 (unnatural offences).

Calling the response of the Union home ministry with regard to the constitutional validity of Section 377 'shameless', Padmashali said, "It is an escapism on part of the central government. They should either uphold it or oppose it. Leaving the decision to the Supreme Court is a shameless act."

She was speaking at the release of, 'Domestic and Sexual Violence: Claiming Voice, Rights and Dignity-A Gender Non-Conforming, Transgender And Sexual Minorities Lens On Love, Life And Laws' organised by Ondede, and Swatantra (Bangalore) in association with the MSW department, St Aloysius College, here on Friday. The book was released by deputy commissioner S Sasikanth Senthil.

Padmashali, the founder member of Ondede, said the institutions of powers in the nation have been dominating against sexual minorities. "Why is the Prime Minister of India silent on the issue of sexual minorities. The government cannot escape by just leaving the matter to the Supreme Court," she said.

Later, interacting with the media, she said that the statements made by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy calling gay sex unnatural, Padmashali said, "Let the leader think twice before making such statements. Let him study about our community properly before talking about it."

The activist said that the transgender community in the state has decided to appeal to the state government to set up district-level cells for the implementation of The Karnataka State Policy on Transgenders, 2017.

DC Sasikanth Senthil said the government exists primarily for the oppressed and not the privileged. "We will be with the sexual minorities to solve their various issues. In the meantime, they should also raise their voice so that the government will respond to them," he said.

