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As India’s 2026 Trans Amendment Bill rolls back key protections to Transpersons and allies, access to safe, affirming support systems has become more urgent than ever. Here are seven Queer- and Trans-led organisations across India offering counselling, legal guidance, and community care for those navigating fear, isolation, and uncertainty.
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, the Indian Parliament passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, undoing many of the Queer and Trans-inclusive provisions introduced in the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. Although the 2019 Act had its flaws, it acknowledged that gender identity is self-perceived, that medical procedures should not be a requirement for legal recognition, and that trans individuals have a right to a certificate of identity based on their own self-declaration. It was framed in response to the Supreme Court’s landmark 2014 judgment in National Legal Services Authority v. Union of India (‘NALSA’) by Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and A.K. Sikri, which ruled that psychological recognition of gender, not anatomical or surgical criteria, must be the operative standard. This was a direct challenge to the pathologisation of transgender identity in India.
The 2026 amendment eliminates the statutory right to self-perceived gender identity by requiring a medical board to verify transgender identity before a certificate can be issued by the competent authority, in this case, a District Magistrate. In essence, the 2026 amendment replaces the previous comprehensive, constitutionally grounded legal definition of transgender individuals — which explicitly included trans men, trans women, and genderqueer people — with a narrower list of socio-cultural intersex identities and pathologised categories. It also introduces new criminal offenses with sentences up to life imprisonment, based on the idea that trans identities are coerced, while maintaining the existing penalties for violence against trans individuals. This potentially creates new ground for anti-Queer and anti-Trans groups to go after individuals and organisations who provide gender-affirmative care and guidance to Trans and Queer persons.
While legal, political, and social challenges to the 2026 amendment will continue, and the fight for social justice persists, we recognise the importance of community and solidarity in these uncertain times. We want to assure queer and trans readers across the country that you are not alone in this moment and that you do not have to face these dark times alone. Here are seven organisations that offer gender-affirmative and trans-inclusive peer counselling, mental health support, legal assistance, and safe spaces for trans and queer individuals across the country:
TWEET Foundation (Transgender Welfare Equity and Empowerment Trust) is a community-led organisation working to advance the rights, dignity, and livelihoods of transgender persons in India. Operating across Delhi and Mumbai, it focuses on crisis relief, skill-building, healthcare access, and policy advocacy. The foundation gained national visibility during the COVID-19 pandemic through its extensive grassroots relief work for trans and gender-nonconforming communities. Rooted in lived experience, TWEET combines direct aid with long-term empowerment, addressing systemic marginalisation while building pathways toward economic independence and social inclusion.
Address: 12, Road No. 2, Teen Dongari, Yashwant Nagar, Goregaon West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400104
Phone: +91 99539 11270
Website: tweetindia.org
Sahodari Foundation is a Tamil Nadu-based trans rights organisation founded by activist Kalki Subramaniam, focusing on empowerment through art, storytelling, and social advocacy. The collective works at the intersection of gender justice, mental health, and creative expression, using theatre, literature, and visual media as tools for resistance and healing. Sahodari also runs livelihood initiatives and leadership programmes for trans individuals, particularly trans women. By centring trans voices in cultural production and public discourse, the foundation challenges stigma while creating affirming spaces for self-representation and community solidarity.
Address: Pollachi, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Email: reachsahodari@gmail.com
Phone: +91 76397 41916
Website: sahodari.org
The Humsafar Trust is one of India’s oldest and most influential LGBTQ+ organisations, founded in 1994 in Mumbai. Initially focused on HIV/AIDS prevention among men who have sex with men, it has since expanded into a comprehensive rights-based organisation working across health, legal advocacy, mental health, and community support. Humsafar plays a key role in public policy engagement, research, and sensitisation programmes, while also providing crisis intervention and counselling services. Its sustained grassroots and institutional work has made it a cornerstone of India’s queer rights movement.
Address: The Humsafar Trust, 3rd Floor, Manthan Plaza, Nehru Road, Vakola, Santacruz (East), Mumbai 400 055
Email: info@humsafar.org
Phone: +91 22 26673800 / +91 22 26650547
Website: humsafar.org
Nazariya is a Delhi-based queer feminist organisation that works with LGBTQIA+ individuals, particularly those assigned female at birth, to build intersectional understandings of gender and sexuality. Through workshops, community dialogues, research, and advocacy, Nazariya addresses issues of family, violence, mental health, and access to rights. Its work is grounded in feminist praxis and emphasises the creation of safe, reflective spaces for young queer people to explore identity and resistance. By centring marginalised voices within the queer spectrum, Nazariya expands the scope of mainstream LGBTQ+ discourse in India.
Email: nazariya.qfrg@gmail.com
Phone: +91 98181 51707 (Monday to Friday; 11 am to 6 pm)
Website: nazariyaqfrg.wordpress.com
Raahi is a Bengaluru-based queer support group that provides safe, non-judgmental spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals navigating identity, relationships, and mental health. It operates primarily through peer-led support meetings, fostering community care and shared learning rather than formal intervention. Raahi’s approach emphasises empathy, confidentiality, and collective healing, particularly for those who may not have access to affirming environments elsewhere. By prioritising conversation and mutual support, the organisation helps individuals build resilience and a sense of belonging within the often-fragmented landscape of queer community.
Email: contact@raahithejourney.org
Phone: +91 97397 80319 (Monday to Friday; 11 am to 7 pm)
(The 2nd, 4th, and 5th Saturdays, along with Sundays and all public holidays, are considered holidays.)
Website: www.raahithejourney.org
Sappho for Equality is a Kolkata-based organisation working for the rights and visibility of lesbian, bisexual, and transmasculine individuals in eastern India. Emerging from an earlier collective called Sappho, it combines activism with cultural work, including publications, film screenings, and community events. The organisation also runs counselling services, crisis support, and advocacy initiatives addressing discrimination, family violence, and legal rights. Sappho has been instrumental in shaping queer discourse in Bengal, creating spaces that foreground gender, sexuality, and regional identity within broader movements for equality.
Address: Ground Floor, Premises No. 68, Rajdanga Main Road, Kolkata 700107, West Bengal, India
Email: sappho1999@gmail.com
Phone: +91 98315 18320 (10 am to 6 pm except Mondays)
Website: www.sapphokolkata.in
The All Manipur Nupi Maanbi Association (AMaNA) is a pioneering transgender rights organisation in Manipur, representing the Nupi Maanbi (trans women) community. Founded in the 1990s, it focuses on healthcare access, HIV/AIDS awareness, legal recognition, and social inclusion. AMaNA has played a critical role in engaging with local institutions, law enforcement, and policymakers to address discrimination and violence faced by trans people in the region. Its work is deeply rooted in the cultural and social specificities of Manipur, bridging traditional identities with contemporary rights-based advocacy.
