“My daughter, born in a male body but identifying as a girl, didn’t choose this difficult life where she faces bullying and hatred for being herself. A recent incident at her school in Assam has deeply shaken our trust in institutions meant to support and educate our children. Instead of being a place of learning, the school became a place of judgment. This is the reality my daughter faces, a reality that many others like her endure, often silenced by ignorance.”

A woman from Guwahati wrote to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma after her 17-year-old transgender daughter had to leave school last month. This happened because photos of her daughter in a bikini at a swimming pool were shared on social media.

The mother criticized the principal of a well-known co-educational school in Guwahati for “slandering,” “belittling,” and “mocking” her daughter and for targeting her identity. The school authorities stated that the photographs were deemed “vulgar,” and their request was simply to have the posts removed from social media.

During Pride Month celebrations in June, photos of the transgender girl wearing a bikini during a family vacation on June 9 were posted on social media. This sparked a dispute between her family and the school and raised concerns about gender inclusivity in Indian educational institutions.

The family has requested Sarma to make several changes, including adopting gender-inclusive uniforms in schools and providing more protection against bullying and harassment.

The state’s Transgender Welfare Board has approached the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR), stating that no one should sexualize a child’s body or a photograph.

On June 26, ASCPCR started hearings on the case involving the transgender girl, with her family sharing their account of the incident. Commission chairperson Shyamal Prasad Saikia stated, “We have listened to the complainant and will now call the school authorities. After hearing both sides, we will schedule another meeting. Then, legal action will follow.”

On June 10, the day after the transgender girl posted the photos, the school principal called the parents at 9pm. “Your daughter’s actions are disgraceful and unacceptable. Come tomorrow and remove her from my school,” the student’s mother recalled the conversation. Instead of giving in to what they perceived as a violation of her right to exist, the family chose to transfer her from the school.

The school management stated that they supported the 17-year-old student and provided counseling while protecting her from bullying by some students. The principal mentioned that after she posted the photos in a swimsuit, which were deemed inappropriate, the school received negative attention within academic circles. He emphasized that the school did not intend to single her out and had simply requested her to delete the posts.

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