Transgender activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi will approach the State Human Rights Commission to complain against the unfair treatment meted out to her at the Bombay Gymkhana. Tripathi was asked to leave the club by the management a few days ago. She now wants to know the grounds on which the action was taken. Tripathi said she will lodge a police complaint and organise a protest march from Azad Maidan. When the management asked me to leave the party I approached the club management to speak with RK Bose,the CEO of Bombay Gym. But the club said that he had left. I wanted to find out from him what the problem was as I dont even know on what grounds they asked me to leave. I want to know, said Tripathi. I will go to the Maharashtra Human Rights Commission, she added. It is incredible that despite all my accomplishments things like these happen. I have never been treated in such a discriminatory manner throughout my life. I have been a guest at elite clubs,parties,cultural events,international conferences and everywhere I was accorded due respect, said Tripathi who has been part of UN AIDS conferences. The Bombay Gym management remained unavailable for comment. Parmesh Shahani,co-host of the party and author of the book Gay Bombay: Globalization,Love and (Be)Longing in Contemporary India,came out in support of Tripathi. I have known her for years. She is a highly regarded person who represents India in several international forums and has given a lot back to the community. If the club has such outdated rules that reek of intolerance,then they must be re examined, Shahani said,adding,There is a larger issue to be dealt with here. The incident reflects how on the one hand we claim to be a modern and plural society,when the reality is indicative of a colonial mindset. It is an example of the discomfort one has when somebody is different from them. Their (people) perception has to be changed so they know that we are not aliens or animals. We are also humans and have rights. Netra Parikh,one of the organisers,said she is outraged at the incident. Laxmi is entitled to dignity. It was rude what they did and we support her. Laxmi dealth with it in a dignified way. We staged a walkout as we were appalled that we live in a society in which people act out of prejudice, Parikh said.
