Trans Rights Now Collective
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{{Use Indian English|date=February 2025}}
Trans Rights Now Collective (TRNC) is a Dalit-Bahujan-Adivasi-centered collective of transgender individuals in India which was founded by Grace Banu.{{Cite web |last=Bhandara |first=Neville |date=2020-04-21 |title=Vogue Warriors: Meet Grace Banu, the transwoman fighting to ensure the safety of India's trans folx through this pandemic |url=https://www.vogue.in/culture-and-living/content/vogue-warriors-grace-banu-tamil-nadu-transwoman-fighting-for-safety-of-indian-trans-folx-covid-19 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Vogue India |language=en-IN}}{{Cite web |last=Dass |first=S. Godson Wisely |date=2022-04-17 |title=Her blue, pink, white fight for trans rights - meet Grace Banu from TN |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/good-news/2022/Apr/17/her-blue-pink-white-fight-for-trans-rights-meet-grace-banu-from-tn-2442931.html |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Trans Rights Now Collective
| abbreviation = TRNC
| founder = Grace Banu
| founding_location = Tamil Nadu, India
| purpose = Advocacy, Support, and Rights for Transgender Individuals
| headquarters = Tamil Nadu, India
| region = India
| website =
}}
History
Trans Rights Now Collective was founded by Grace Banu, a prominent Dalit and transgender activist.{{Cite web |last=Tiwari |first=Aditya |date=2023-09-26 |title=Meet Dalit transgender activist Grace Banu, who campaigns for reservations for transgender people |url=https://scroll.in/article/1055658/meet-dalit-transgender-activist-grace-banu-who-campaigns-for-reservations-for-transgender-people |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}} Grace Banu created history by becoming the first transgender person to secure admission to an engineering college in Tamil Nadu.{{Cite news |date=2014-06-29 |title=First transgender in Tamil Nadu gets engineering seat |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/first-transgender-in-tamil-nadu-gets-engineering-seat/article6160930.ece |access-date=2025-03-23 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}
The collective has been at the forefront of India's trans rights movement, advocating for the rights and visibility of transgender individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities.{{Cite web |title=Unveiled: theatre of the trans community |url=https://ruralindiaonline.org/article/unveiled-theatre-of-the-trans-community |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=beta.ruralindiaonline.org |language=en}}
Work
Grace Banu and the collective have been vocal in demanding horizontal reservations in education and employment for transgender people. They have argued that clubbing all transgender persons into one category neglects the diversity within the community and the specific caste-based oppression faced by many.{{Cite web |last=Web |first=Statesman |date=2023-06-07 |title=From 'Pride Month' to landing on the moon, in the summer of '69 |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/world/indian-trans-community-seeks-horizontal-reservations-in-pride-month-1503188097.html |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=The Statesman |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-07-01 |title=Horizontal Reservation for trans people: Grace Banu in no mood to give up her struggle |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/Jun/30/horizontal-reservation-for-trans-peoplegrace-banu-in-no-mood-to-give-up-her-struggle-2589070.html |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}{{Cite web |title='Don't Have Just One Identity': Transgender People Urge Govt to Rethink Quota Under OBC Category |url=https://thewire.in/rights/dont-have-just-one-identity-transgender-people-urge-govt-to-rethink-quota-under-obc-category |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=The Wire |language=en}}
On 17 April 2023, over 15 transgender people, led by Grace Banu, staged a peaceful protest near Chennai's Kalaignar Karunanidhi Memorial. They were "forcefully" detained and "manhandled" by the Chennai Police before being released the same evening.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-22 |title=An equal stake in the nation: Why transgender people are demanding horizontal reservation |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/equal-stake-nation-transgender-people-demanding-horizontal-reservation-8570321/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} The protest aimed to bring attention to the demand for horizontal reservations for transgender individuals.{{Cite web |last=Sasikumar |first=Meenakshy |date=2023-04-20 |title=Explained: Why Trans People Are Demanding Horizontal Reservation Across Castes |url=https://www.thequint.com/explainers/trans-people-fight-for-horizontal-reservations-across-castes |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=TheQuint |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=T. N. M. |date=2023-04-17 |title=Police manhandle, detain trans persons protesting at Chennai Karunanidhi memorial |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/police-manhandle-detain-trans-persons-protesting-chennai-karunanidhi-memorial-176001 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Priya |first=Azeefa Fathima,Lakshmi |date=2023-02-11 |title=Trans candidates accuse TN govt of denying them employment despite court order |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/trans-candidates-accuse-tn-govt-denying-them-employment-despite-court-order-173136 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}
In 2022, on 20 November, which is observed as International Transgender Day of Remembrance, the collective presented a play titled "Sandakaranga" in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. the play showcased the harassment, abuse, and assault in that transgender people face in schools, and brought to life the voices of the trans lives lost. The writer and director of this show is the award-winning actress Negha Shahin.{{Cite web |last=Iyer |first=Sahana |date=2022-11-22 |title=Upcoming play Sandakaranga, presented by Trans Rights Now Collective, to focus on injustice to trans people |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/theatre/2022/Nov/22/upcoming-play-sandakaranga-presented-by-trans-rights-now-collective-45636.html |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Indulgexpress |language=en}} The entire production was an effort by the trans community, everything from conception and direction to costume design and acting.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-31 |title=Unveiled: theatre of the trans community |url=https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/unveiled-theatre-of-the-trans-community/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=People's Archive of Rural India |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Iyer |first=Sahana |date=2022-11-22 |title=Upcoming play Sandakaranga, presented by Trans Rights Now Collective, to focus on injustice to trans people |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/theatre/2022/Nov/22/upcoming-play-sandakaranga-presented-by-trans-rights-now-collective-45636.html |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Indulgexpress |language=en}}