Recently, the Vicks ad went viral, touching people’s hearts with their endearing video about family values. This simple ad had a much bigger underlying message at hand, as Vicks touched upon transgender rights, as well as adoption in India — topics often swept under the carpet in India. Transgender rights, or rather LGBTQ rights in India are a rather controversial topic when it comes to the Government, and the laws of our land.

However, the Ministry of Sanitation took the community by surprise on Monday, April 3. The Indian Government has decided to allow members of the Transgender Community, to use toilets of their choice, irrespective of the gender marking the bathrooms. The official statement even reads, that a conscious effort must be taken to ensure that these members of the community are recognised as equal citizens and users of toilets.

A provision is also being for the construction of public toilets for the transgender community in parts of the city where they live in larger numbers. In an article by The Wire, they specify that Tamil Nadu has around ten lakh people who identify as transgender, back in 2011. Scroll too covered the issue, noting that the statement recommended that members of the transgender community who were selected as ‘Swachhata Champions’, be engaged, to help eradicate the stigma attached to the community. If gone about correctly, not only would it help break down several barriers put up by the rest of our society, but it would be a small step taken by India’s Government towards the larger picture.

Feature Image Credit — DNA India