Bengaluru: The Coalition for Sex Workers, Sexual and Sexuality Minorities Rights (CSSMR) staged a demonstration at Freedom Park on Thursday, condemning former U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies, which they deemed oppressive towards the LGBTQIA+ community.
The protest followed an open letter written by transgender activist Akkai Padmashali, criticizing Trump’s move to ban transgender individuals from military service. The coalition labeled this decision as discriminatory and dehumanizing.
In a press release, the organization emphasized that such regressive policies jeopardize the dignity and security of marginalized communities worldwide. Priyank Asha Sukanand, Karnataka head of the All India Professional Congress LGBTQIA vertical, pointed out that Trump’s administration also withdrew funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in corporate sectors. This action, they argued, disproportionately impacts immigrant-led organizations, including those run by Indian-origin professionals, affecting racial minorities.
Around 40 activists from various progressive groups participated in the protest. In her letter, Akkai criticized the executive order preventing federal agencies from recognizing gender identity in official documents, stating that it endangers transgender people’s access to healthcare, jobs, and legal protections.
“You claim to defend ‘biological reality,’ but this move threatens the survival of countless individuals who rely on legal recognition for essential rights,” Akkai wrote.
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