'Educate Yourself': Congress Slams Smriti Irani For Response On Menstrual Leave Query

Apart from homosexual males who menstruate, the LGBTQIA+ encompasses a wide range of people, according to the opposition leaders. 

The Congress on Saturday slammed Union Minister Smriti Irani's remark about which gay men menstruate, claiming that the minister does not comprehend the scope of the word LGBTQIA+. Taking to Instagram, Congress stated: "Dear Smriti Irani, Here’s a free lesson in gender identity abbreviations for you. Thank us later."

The remarks came after Smriti Irani reaffirmed her position on mandated paid menstrual leave in an interview with news agency ANI, saying the question posed to her in Parliament was ill-advised. "MP Manoj Jha asked whether the government was planning to out a menstrual hygiene policy and whether the policy would contain provisions for the LGBTQIA community. Which gay men without a uterus has a menstrual cycle?" Smriti Irani was quoted by ANI in its report.

"The question was intended either to shock, provoke or to attract attention. Which it did. It did attract attention, it did shock many people, it did provoke controversy, but the question in itself indicates what the intent is," the minister said.

Apart from homosexual males who menstruate, the phrase encompasses a wide range of people, according to the opposition leaders. Priyanka Chaturvedi, leader of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), said it was shameful that the minister was unaware of the scope of LGBTQIA. Taking to X, Chaturvedi stated: "Shameful that we have a minister who doesn’t get the ambit of LGBTQIA+ - a commonly used umbrella term that includes transgenders, many of whom do menstruate. Her arrogance towards an issue which is a lived experience of many is shocking & insensitive."

"LGBTQIA+ is NOT gay men alone, the community includes men and several menstruating women. Minister @smritiirani your apathy, arrogance & ignorance are appalling. Instead of voicing manufactured outrage spend some time and educate yourself on the issue," Congress leader Supriya Shrinate tweeted. 

Smriti Irani's comments in Parliament that menstruation is not a disability and that the administration is opposed to enacting any legislation requiring paid vacation for periods sparked outrage. Smriti Irani reaffirmed her position, stating that making such a break mandatory would expose women to workplace prejudice and harassment.