The latest glossary (henceforth official glossary) is a marked improvement over the previous version drafted by the government. It largely adopts the community-preferred glossary  developed by Queer Chennai Chronicles, Orinam and The News Minute, building on the work done by QCC-TNM media reference guide and Orinam’s terminology, and included by  Justice Anand Venkatesh in one of the interim orders of the Sushma (2021) case.

A key difference is in the official glossary’s replacement of ‘Thirunar’, an umbrella term for transgender persons, with ‘maruviya paalinar/ maariya paalinar’. We invite reader comments and feedback on other changes: please reach us at orinam.net@gmail.com.