What is Pride RGNUL and a Glance at the Newly Established Gender-Neutral Washrooms
Interviewee: | Eukti Garg (Member of Legal Aid Clinic) |
Interviewer: | Hunar (Associate Editor, RGNUL Cosmos) |
Introduction: RGNUL Legal Aid Clinic provides a platform for those who cannot afford legal assistance. The Legal Aid Clinic at RGNUL has taken various steps in the direction towards the upliftment of the students as well as the community outside campus. Their initiative, the Gender Inclusive District Project aims to create a Gender-Neutral District in order to break away from deep stigmas still prevalent in today’s society. The Project headed by Ms. Eukti Garg, recently introduced Gender Neutral washrooms on the campus which has been viewed as a big step towards making the campus an inclusive space for everyone.
Q.1) The RGNUL Legal Aid Clinic has taken various initiatives in the past that have had an indelible impact on the lives of many individuals. What is the Gender Inclusive District Project at the Legal Aid Clinic?
Answer: We at RGNUL Legal Aid Clinic try to initiate projects to work on issues that are often neglected by mainstream law students. Gender Inclusivity Project, which is more like a pledge for us, was introduced with the object of making our campus and our city i.e., Patiala inclusive of all genders and sexualities. The work includes identifying problematic areas, spreading awareness, finding impactful solutions, and trying to make a safe space for everyone.
Q.2) The Gender-Neutral Washrooms have been widely applauded as a big step towards making the campus more inclusive and gender-neutral. How did the team come across the idea of a Gender-Neutral Washroom?
Answer: There was no “eureka!” moment. But our Student Coordinator and my friend Gazal Preet Kaur (Final year student) had this idea and pushed us in that direction. We just executed it. Moreover, our members created a proposal to identify the problematic areas and their solutions as far as the rights of LGBTQIA+ are concerned. This made us aware that LGBTQIA+ and especially trans persons have to face harassment in various forms in washrooms. Recently, in the Colloquium on Right of Identity of LGBTQIA+ and Gender Fluidity organized by RGNUL Pro Bono club, one of the speakers told her horror story that they had to face in a public washroom! So, the problem is definitely rampant and our campus having gender-neutral washrooms will aid the community members to apply in our university without worrying about these fundamental civic necessities.
Q.3) India is still on the path towards accepting and normalizing the idea of gender neutrality. While deep stigmas still remain to be shattered, do you think the country is equipped with efficient and credible laws that aim to help and develop the LGBTQIA+ community?
Answer: See, there is Transgender Rights Act, 2019 which envisages and promises big things like equal opportunities in employment, policies for transgenders, etc. In our research, we found that there is not a single policy framed by the state of Punjab for fulfilling these promises. So, the current law is definitely not efficient. Other than laws, we have Supreme Court judgments like NALSA judgment of 2014 which recognized trans persons as Third Gender and observed that the trans community be considered backward for the purposes of reservation under Article 16(4). High Courts are doing their bit too. For instance, recently the Odisha High Court granted the benefit of pension to a transwoman who was being denied the same because she was not the unmarried “daughter” of the deceased.
Q.4) Recently, NUJS took various steps to make their campus more gender-neutral. Furthermore, Panjab University also provided accommodation to one of their transgender students. What role can educational institutions and especially students in your opinion can play in the betterment of the LGBTQIA+ community?
Answer: We have talked with several members of the community. And one thing that has come as a collective answer to the upliftment of trans persons is better and rather equal educational opportunities. Just like educational institutions are meant to be disability friendly, the universities should be gender-inclusive. We have heard stories from people from Panjab University, Delhi University who complain that they have no facilities whatsoever. The staff isn’t sensitized, no washroom and no mental health support. So, infrastructure-wise, educational institutions can do a lot of things.
Students, however, are the chief architects of educational institutes. They are the soul of an institute and I believe they can contribute a lot to such an expansive matter as the rights of LGBTQIA+. Our university does have Pride RGNUL and some form of communities in this regard and through this platform, I would like to say that they can reach out to the Legal Aid Clinic with their grievances or report instances that can help us in helping other students in some manner.
Q.5) What sort of responses did you receive for the gender-neutral washroom? Was there any constructive feedback and have the students begun using it?
Answer: Yes, there was one in which it was said that the symbol that we had did not portray gender neutrality. We assure you that we are looking into that. And yes, students are using the washroom.
Q.6) I understand there might be some restricted sentiment due to lack of awareness when it comes to gender neutrality. How do you think that can be changed?
Answer: Baby steps. It is a sad state of affairs that people don’t know about gender neutrality, gender fluidity, and the related concepts. In a way, it is not even their fault because we have never been taught about sexuality and gender in our schools or college life. But ironically, we are always taught about how should a girl behave, how should a boy act, and how they should not act. One of the ways in which this can be changed is by incorporating texts related to LGBTQIA+ in syllabi at the school and college levels.
Q.7) Is there a specific message you would like to give to the student community?
Answer: I think I would mention two things. Firstly, Gender inclusivity is not just about LGBTQIA+. It’s for every one of us who feels that our socially constructed identity is restricting us from achieving our goals in life. It can be about a boy who feels that our laws are biased, a girl who feels restricted from freely choosing her career path, and a guy who just wants to wear a skirt without being labeled as something he is not. It can and is about so many things that a small project like ours can’t even fathom achieving. We know that gender inclusivity can only start inside one’s mindset and we will try to change that. Secondly, I would like to push forward the suggestion of one of our panelists and that is to read A. Revati’s “The Truth About Me: The Hijra Life Story”
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