Acceptance and safety are not abstract ideas. They are closely linked to well-being
Rebecca Coelho
On March 25, 2026, the Indian Parliament passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026. Among the many objectionable clauses of the Bill which proposes amendments to the 2019 Act, is the denial of the right to self-determination of gender.
I attended the protest against the Transgender Amendment Bill 2026 on March 22, 2026 at Azad Maidan, Panaji. What stayed with me was not just the slogans or speeches, but the range of emotions people were carrying. There was anger, fear, confusion, grief and also hope. And despite all of that, people showed up.
As a mental health professional, it is difficult to separate policy from psychological impact. When conversations about identity are turned into public debate, it does not remain an abstract issue. It affects how safe people feel in their own bodies, in their homes, and in everyday spaces. This has a direct impact on mental health.
For many individuals, this is not a matter of opinion. It is not a phase and it is not a choice. It is their identity and their lived reality. Having to repeatedly explain or justify one’s existence can be exhausting. Over time, this can lead to anxiety, low moods, and a sense of not belonging.
There is also the everyday impact that often goes unnoticed. What does it mean to have to think about your safety before doing something as simple as putting on lipstick, wearing eyeliner or choosing a piece of jewellery? To pause and calculate how you might be perceived, whether it is safe to step out as yourself. Nobody should have to live with that kind of fear built into ordinary moments.
What stood out at the protest was the sense of community. People were listening, standing together, and holding space for one another. These moments make a difference. When people feel seen and not alone, even briefly, it can help them cope.
There is often a gap between how issues are discussed publicly and how they are experienced personally. It is easy to form opinions from a distance. It is harder to understand what it means to live with constant scrutiny, or to feel that your identity is something that needs approval.
Many of them also face everyday experiences like people staring at them strangely, avoiding them, or making crass comments and jokes. These moments can be deeply hurtful. A lot of individuals have been bullied in school simply because their mannerisms did not fit what society considers “normal” — the way they walk, talk or express themselves. Being called names or mocked does not just pass. It stays, and it can take years to work through that pain.
From a mental health perspective, acceptance and safety are not abstract ideas. They are closely linked to well-being. Stigma, rejection, and discrimination increase the risk of distress in very real ways.
This is not about asking everyone to agree on everything. It is about recognising that the way they speak, think and respond to others has real consequences. A person’s identity is not something that can be debated away or changed through pressure.
In moments like these, feeling overwhelmed or heavy is understandable. The persons concerned are not over-reacting; they are simply articulating a very valid issue.
Society impacts mental health. It is not always just an individual’s personal responsibility to cope with it all by themselves. (The writer is a psychologist)
