Transgender hormone therapy

Subject : Science and Technology

Context:

Transgender status grounds Adam Harry’s dream to be a pilot.
Private-pilot licence holder working as a delivery person; DGCA says cross sex hormone therapy renders him unﬁt to ﬂy; activist says there is no scientific basis for it.

Transgender hormone therapy

Transgender hormone therapy, also called hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), is a form of hormone therapy in which sex hormones and other hormonal medications are administered to transgender or gender nonconforming individuals for the purpose of more closely aligning their secondary sexual characteristics with their gender identity.
This form of hormone therapy is given as one of two types, based on whether the goal of treatment is masculinization or feminization:
- Masculinizing hormone therapy – for transgender men or transmasculine people; consists of androgens and anti estrogens.
- Feminizing hormone therapy – for transgender women or transfeminine people; consists of estrogens and anti androgens.

Reasons given by DGCA to declare unfit to fly:

Following an extensive evaluation, which included a psychometric test that’s not normally required, the DGCA declared him “temporary unfit” on the grounds of gender dysphoria (unease due to mismatch between sex assigned at birth and a person’s gender identity),
And because he is undergoing “cross sex hormone therapy”.
He was advised to complete his treatment and undertake a medical review.
Since his masculinising hormone therapy is a life-long treatment, the DGCA’s current stand forbids him from ever becoming a pilot in India.

Supreme Court on rights of trans gender :

In India, the landmark Supreme Court judgement in National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) v Union of India recognised that third gender persons were entitled to fundamental rights under the Constitution.

It held that no third gender persons should be subjected to any medical examination which would invade their right to privacy.