To,
Sushma Swaraj
Minister of External Affairs
DATE: 23 January 2019
IT professional and transgender activist Shane Mills, who has been selected to represent India at a Dell international summit in Malaysia, is unable to file an e-visa application because there is no option for third gender.
Shane’s professional visit is time-sensitive -- we need to ask Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to intervene NOW.
While her Indian passport states third gender, the Malaysian consulate in Chennai asked Shane to change her gender to male in her passport as a solution.
It’s unfair and insensitive to ask someone to change their gender for the administration’s shortcoming.
“From sex change operation to get my paperwork in place, I have gone through so much. This is humiliating,” said Shane Mills.
Shane’s visit to Malaysia and her e-visa deadlock is now in the public eye. This is the perfect opportunity for us to leverage our voice and ask Sushma Swaraj to set an example by standing up for our transgender citizens.
The Indian government has made huge strides by including ‘third gender’ on our passports. Now, we must go all the way, and ensure Indian citizens who identify as third gender are not humiliated when they apply for visas abroad.
Swaraj is known for stepping up on Twitter to support Indians in distress. Your signature can help put the spotlight on Shane’s situation.
Shane deserves to represent our country in Malaysia -- let’s make sure we do our bit in making sure she gets there, on her own terms as a transgender person.
Sources:
Indian transgender woman unable to secure Malaysian visa, told to change gender to ‘male’ - Coconuts KL
Trans woman fails to get M’sian visa due to gender option - The SunDaily
City transwoman told to change her gender to ‘male’ on passport to get a Malaysia visa; seeks help from Sushma Swaraj - The Times of India
No third gender option on e-Visa portal - Telangana Today
Indian trans woman unable to get Malaysian visa, form has no option to choose gender - The News Minute
To,
Sushma Swaraj
Minister of External Affairs
DATE: 23 January 2019
IT professional and transgender activist Shane Mills, who has been selected to represent India at a Dell international summit in Malaysia, is unable to file an e-visa application because there is no option for third gender.
Shane’s professional visit is time-sensitive -- we need to ask Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj to intervene NOW.
While her Indian passport states third gender, the Malaysian consulate in Chennai asked Shane to change her gender to male in her passport as a solution.
It’s unfair and insensitive to ask someone to change their gender for the administration’s shortcoming.
“From sex change operation to get my paperwork in place, I have gone through so much. This is humiliating,” said Shane Mills.
Shane’s visit to Malaysia and her e-visa deadlock is now in the public eye. This is the perfect opportunity for us to leverage our voice and ask Sushma Swaraj to set an example by standing up for our transgender citizens.
The Indian government has made huge strides by including ‘third gender’ on our passports. Now, we must go all the way, and ensure Indian citizens who identify as third gender are not humiliated when they apply for visas abroad.
Swaraj is known for stepping up on Twitter to support Indians in distress. Your signature can help put the spotlight on Shane’s situation.
Shane deserves to represent our country in Malaysia -- let’s make sure we do our bit in making sure she gets there, on her own terms as a transgender person.
Sources:
Indian transgender woman unable to secure Malaysian visa, told to change gender to ‘male’ - Coconuts KL
Trans woman fails to get M’sian visa due to gender option - The SunDaily
City transwoman told to change her gender to ‘male’ on passport to get a Malaysia visa; seeks help from Sushma Swaraj - The Times of India
No third gender option on e-Visa portal - Telangana Today
Indian trans woman unable to get Malaysian visa, form has no option to choose gender - The News Minute