Cyberbullying and Rights of Transgender in Delhi (National Capital Territory): Framework for Challenges and Pathways to Inclusion

Main Article Content

Gauri Tiwari
Raj A. Varma

Abstract

Transgender individuals in India are facing various unique challenges stemming from social, cultural, legal, and economic factors. Despite some progress in recent years, they continue encountering significant barriers in various aspects of their lives. They often experience social stigma and discrimination from their families, communities, and society. They may be ostracized, marginalized, and face verbal and physical abuse. Although India recognized the rights of transgender people with the landmark NALSA judgment in 2014, legal recognition is not widespread. Access to essential services is hampered for many transgender people because of the difficulty of acquiring identification papers that accurately represent their gender identity. The study's objectives are to measure the challenges faced by this community and the future outlook from a legal point of view. This study highlighted the present conditions of the Transgender and their victimisation in the Delhi (NCT) region. For the data collection and analysis, 500 Transgender were gathered using a structured questionnaire with personal interviews and are being analysed using SEM with smart PLS software. The results are developed as an SEM model with 6 factors: Experience with Discrimination and Victimization, Legal Protections and Rights, Social Perception and Support Systems, Healthcare and Mental Health, and Future Outlook and Advocacy. A statistical model developed significantly presents the need for LP, SP, and HC for the future outlook of these communities in India.

Article Details

How to Cite
Tiwari , G., & A. Varma, R. (2026). Cyberbullying and Rights of Transgender in Delhi (National Capital Territory): Framework for Challenges and Pathways to Inclusion. CINEFORUM, 66(S6), 240–258. Retrieved from https://revistadecineforum.com/index.php/cf/article/view/1579
Section
Original Articles

References

Scheim, A. I., Rich, A. J., Zubizarreta, D., Malik, M., Baker, K. E., Restar, A. J., ... & Reisner, S. L. (2024). Health status of transgender people globally: a systematic review of research on disease burden and correlates. PLoS One, 19(3), e0299373.

Kohnepoushi, P., Nikouei, M., Cheraghi, M., Hasanabadi, P., Rahmani, H., Moradi, M., ... & Moradi, Y. (2023). Prevalence of suicidal thoughts and attempts in the transgender population of the world: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of general psychiatry, 22(1), 28.

Anderson, S. M. (2020). Gender matters: The perceived role of gender expression in discrimination against cisgender and transgender LGBQ individuals. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 44(3), 323-341.

Falck, F., & Bränström, R. (2023). The significance of structural stigma towards transgender people in health care encounters across Europe: Health care access, gender identity disclosure, and discrimination in health care as a function of national legislation and public attitudes. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1031.

Austin, A., Craig, S. L., Navega, N., & McInroy, L. B. (2020). It’s my safe space: The life-saving role of the internet in the lives of transgender and gender diverse youth. International journal of transgender health, 21(1), 33-44.

Evelyn, S., Clancy, E. M., Klettke, B., & Tatnell, R. (2022). A phenomenological investigation into cyberbullying as experienced by people identifying as transgender or gender diverse. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(11), 6560.

Speechley, M., Stuart, J., & Modecki, K. L. (2024). Diverse gender identity development: A qualitative synthesis and development of a new contemporary framework. Sex Roles, 90(1), 1-18.

Austin, A., Craig, S. L., Navega, N., & McInroy, L. B. (2020). It’s my safe space: The life-saving role of the internet in the lives of transgender and gender diverse youth. International journal of transgender health, 21(1), 33-44.

Selkie, E., Adkins, V., Masters, E., Bajpai, A., & Shumer, D. (2020). Transgender adolescents' uses of social media for social support. Journal of Adolescent Health, 66(3), 275-280.

Smith, N., Peters, D., Jay, C., Sandal, G. M., Barrett, E. C., & Wuebker, R. (2023). Off-world mental health: Considerations for the design of well-being–supportive technologies for deep space exploration. JMIR Formative Research, 7(1), e37784.

Ojeda, M., Elipe, P., & Del Rey, R. (2024). LGBTQ+ bullying and cyberbullying: Beyond sexual orientation and gender identity. Victims & Offenders, 19(3), 491-512.

Mkhize, S., Nunlall, R., & Gopal, N. (2020). An examination of social media as a platform for cyber-violence against the LGBT+ population. Agenda, 34(1), 23-33.

Das, B., & Saikia, A. (2023). Unveiling marginalization: analyzing india's third gender in light of the transgender persons (protection of rights) act, 2019. Panjab university law magazine-maglaw, 2(1).

Raj, A., & Juned, F. (2022). Gendered identities and digital inequalities: An exploration of the lived realities of the transgender community in the Indian digital welfare state. Gender & Development, 30(3), 531-549.

Schneider, S. K., O'donnell, L., Stueve, A., & Coulter, R. W. (2012). Cyberbullying, school bullying, and psychological distress: A regional census of high school students. American journal of public health, 102(1), 171-177. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2011.300308

Evelyn, S., Clancy, E. M., Klettke, B., & Tatnell, R. (2022). A phenomenological investigation into cyberbullying as experienced by people identifying as transgender or gender diverse. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(11), 6560.

Price, M. A., Hollinsaid, N. L., Bokhour, E. J., Johnston, C., Skov, H. E., Kaufman, G. W., ... & Olezeski, C. (2023). Transgender and gender diverse youth’s experiences of gender-related adversity. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 40(3), 361-380.

Nagata, J. M., Balasubramanian, P., Diep, T., Ganson, K. T., Testa, A., He, J., & Baker, F. C. (2025). Cyberbullying Victimization Among Transgender and Gender-Questioning Early Adolescents. Academic Pediatrics, 25(3), 102624.

Herrmann, L., Barkmann, C., Bindt, C., Hohmann, S., Fahrenkrug, S., & Becker-Hebly, I. (2024). How social is social media for transgender and gender-diverse youth? Association of online social experiences with internalizing mental health problems. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(10), 3503-3516.

Mussap, A. J., Clancy, E. M., & Klettke, B. (2023). Attitudes and beliefs associated with cyberbullying and non-consensual sexting in cisgender and transgender adults. Gender issues, 40(1), 65-85.

Nagata, J. M., Balasubramanian, P., Diep, T., Ganson, K. T., Testa, A., He, J., & Baker, F. C. (2025). Cyberbullying Victimization Among Transgender and Gender-Questioning Early Adolescents. Academic Pediatrics, 25(3), 102624.

Walker, A. (2023). Transphobic discourse and moral panic convergence: A content analysis of my hate mail. Criminology, 61(4), 994-1021.

Baider, F. (2025). Frames and triggers of extreme speech: The case of transphobia. Social Inclusion, 13.

Sánchez-Sánchez, A. M., Ruiz-Muñoz, D., & Sánchez-Sánchez, F. J. (2024). Mapping homophobia and transphobia on social media. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 21(1), 210-226.

Powell, A., Scott, A. J., & Henry, N. (2020). Digital harassment and abuse: Experiences of sexuality and gender minority adults. European journal of criminology, 17(2), 199-223.

Austin, A., Craig, S. L., Navega, N., & McInroy, L. B. (2020). It’s my safe space: The life-saving role of the internet in the lives of transgender and gender diverse youth. International journal of transgender health, 21(1), 33-44.

Macpherson, L. (2022). The Psychological Experience of Cyberbullying Among Transgender Adults (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University).

Lawson, R., & Coffey-Glover, L. (2023). Introducing mediated discrimination: Intersections of gender, sexuality and media discourse. Discourse, Context & Media, 56, 100739.

Galdi, S., & Guizzo, F. (2021). Media-induced sexual harassment: The routes from sexually objectifying media to sexual harassment. Sex Roles, 84(11), 645-669.

Bezzina, M., Sammut, F., & Scerri, J. (2025). Surrounded by Predators: The Lived Experiences of Online Harassment by Male Public Figures. International Journal of Bullying Prevention, 1-16.

Drave, C. M. (2023). LGBTQ+ Experiences With Internet and Information Communication Technology. Northcentral University.

Ferrari, F., & Mancini, T. (2020). Gender binary thêmata in social representations of sexual minorities: A ten year scoping review. Sexuality & Culture, 24(6), 2202-2229.

Bracco, S. E., Sczesny, S., & Gustafsson Sendén, M. (2024). Media portrayals of trans and gender diverse people: A comparative analysis of news headlines across Europe. Sex Roles, 90(4), 491-507.

Esposito, C., Sulla, F., Toto, G. A., Berardinetti, V., Lavanga, A., Savino, F. P., ... & Ascorra Costa, M. E. P. (2024). Promoting Well-being from a gender perspective: A systematic review of interventions using digital tools and serious games. Behavioral Sciences, 14(11), 1052.

Elliott, K. J., Stacciarini, J. M. R., Jimenez, I. A., Rangel, A. P., & Fanfan, D. (2022). A review of psychosocial protective and risk factors for the mental well-being of rural LGBTQ+ adolescents. Youth & Society, 54(2), 312-341.

Morales Rodríguez, F. M., Rodriguez Clares, R., & García Muñoz, M. R. (2020). Influence of resilience, everyday stress, self-efficacy, self-esteem, emotional intelligence, and empathy on attitudes toward sexual and gender diversity rights. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(17), 6219.

Meneguzzo, P., Zuccaretti, D., Tenconi, E., & Favaro, A. (2024). Transgender body image: Weight dissatisfaction, objectification & identity-Complex interplay explored via matched group. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 24(1), 100441.

Kohnepoushi, P., Nikouei, M., Cheraghi, M., Hasanabadi, P., Rahmani, H., Moradi, M., ... & Moradi, Y. (2023). Prevalence of suicidal thoughts and attempts in the transgender population of the world: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of general psychiatry, 22(1), 28.

Cramer, R. J., Kaniuka, A. R., Yada, F. N., Diaz-Garelli, F., Hill, R. M., Bowling, J., ... & Tucker, R. P. (2022). An analysis of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among transgender and gender diverse adults. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 57(1), 195-205.

Evelyn, S., Clancy, E. M., Klettke, B., & Tatnell, R. (2022). A phenomenological investigation into cyberbullying as experienced by people identifying as transgender or gender diverse. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(11), 6560.

Nagata, J. M., Balasubramanian, P., Diep, T., Ganson, K. T., Testa, A., He, J., & Baker, F. C. (2025). Cyberbullying Victimization Among Transgender and Gender-Questioning Early Adolescents. Academic Pediatrics, 25(3), 102624.

Sares-Jäske, L., Czimbalmos, M., Majlander, S., Siukola, R., Klemetti, R., Luopa, P., & Lehtonen, J. (2023). Gendered differences in experiences of bullying and mental health among transgender and cisgender youth. Journal of youth and adolescence, 52(8), 1531-1548.

Miller, H., Welland, L., McCook, S., & Giunta, K. (2022). Wellbeing beyond binaries: A qualitative study of wellbeing in bisexual+ youth. Journal of Bisexuality, 22(3), 385-428.

Arató, N., Zsidó, A. N., Rivnyák, A., Peley, B., & Labadi, B. (2022). Risk and protective factors in cyberbullying: the role of family, social support and emotion regulation. International journal of bullying prevention, 4(2), 160-173.

Amadori, A., Real, A. G., Brighi, A., & Russell, S. T. (2025). An intersectional perspective on cyberbullying: Victimization experiences among marginalized youth. Journal of Adolescence, 97(4), 931-940.

Tankersley, A. P., Grafsky, E. L., Dike, J., & Jones, R. T. (2021). Risk and resilience factors for mental health among transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) youth: A systematic review. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 24(2), 183-206.

Arató, N., Zsidó, A. N., Rivnyák, A., Peley, B., & Labadi, B. (2022). Risk and protective factors in cyberbullying: the role of family, social support and emotion regulation. International journal of bullying prevention, 4(2), 160-173.

McLaughlin, P., Kennedy, B., Harris, A., Hamilton, M., Richardson, J., & Holman-Jones, S. (2021). Online and social media resilience in young people in vulnerable contexts. Vulnerable children and youth studies, 16(2), 178-188.

Teixeira, T., Santos Carneiro, N., & Nogueira, C. (2024). Nonbinary people: Perceived social support in personal relationships and (virtual) communities. International Journal of Transgender Health, 25(4), 943-956.

Evelyn, S., Clancy, E. M., Klettke, B., & Tatnell, R. (2022). A phenomenological investigation into cyberbullying as experienced by people identifying as transgender or gender diverse. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(11), 6560.

Selkie, E., Adkins, V., Masters, E., Bajpai, A., & Shumer, D. (2020). Transgender adolescents' uses of social media for social support. Journal of Adolescent Health, 66(3), 275-280.

Bowling, J., Barker, J., Gunn, L. H., & Lace, T. (2020). “It just feels right”: Perceptions of the effects of community connectedness among trans individuals. PloS one, 15(10), e0240295.

McGuire, J. K., Okrey Anderson, S., & Michaels, C. (2022). “I don’t think you belong in here:” The impact of gender segregated bathrooms on the safety, health, and equality of transgender people. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 34(1), 40-62.

Nagoshi, J. L., Nagoshi, C. T., & Pillai, V. K. (2023). Transgender theory revisited: Current applications to transgender issues. Current Opinion in Psychology, 49, 101546.

Cabral, J., & Pinto, T. M. (2023). Gender, shame, and social support in LGBTQI+ exposed to discrimination: a model for understanding the impact on mental health. Social Sciences, 12(8), 454.

Herrmann, L., Barkmann, C., Bindt, C., Hohmann, S., Fahrenkrug, S., & Becker-Hebly, I. (2024). How social is social media for transgender and gender-diverse youth? Association of online social experiences with internalizing mental health problems. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(10), 3503-3516.

Gates, T. G., Bills, K. L., Bennett, B., & Kelly, B. L. (2023). Cyberbullying, mental health, and lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth with disabilities: Intersectionalities and environmental risks. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 32(10), 3159-3166.

Chan, A. S. W., Leung, L. M., Wong, F. K. C., Ho, J. M. C., Tam, H. L., Tang, P. M. K., & Yan, E. (2023). Needs and experiences of cancer care in patients’ perspectives among the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community: a systematic review. Social Work in Health Care, 62(8-9), 263-279.

Edwards, K. M., Littleton, H., Gardella, J., Farquhar-Leicester, A., Huff, M., Spitz, C., ... & Hopfauf, S. (2024). “It changed me for the better”: Feasibility, acceptability, and safety of an online program for sexual and gender minority youth to prevent alcohol use and teen dating violence. Children and Youth Services Review, 164, 107866.

Lim, W., Lau, B. T., & Islam, F. M. A. (2023). Cyberbullying awareness intervention in digital and non-digital environment for youth: Current knowledge. Education and Information Technologies, 28(6), 6869-6925.

Matuschka, L. K., Scott, J. G., Campbell, M. A., Lawrence, D., Zubrick, S. R., Bartlett, J., & Thomas, H. J. (2022). Correlates of help-seeking behaviour in adolescents who experience bullying victimisation. International journal of bullying prevention, 4(2), 99-114.

McGuire, J. K., Anderson, C. R., Toomey, R. B., & Russell, S. T. (2010). School climate for transgender youth: A mixed method investigation of student experiences and school responses. Journal of youth and adolescence, 39(10), 1175-1188.

Wilson, C., & Cariola, L. A. (2020). LGBTQI+ youth and mental health: A systematic review of qualitative research. Adolescent Research Review, 5(2), 187-211.

Cabral, J., & Pinto, T. M. (2023). Gender, shame, and social support in LGBTQI+ exposed to discrimination: a model for understanding the impact on mental health. Social Sciences, 12(8), 454.

Shattuck, D., Hall, J. L., Green, A., Greenberg, C., Peñaloza, L., Ramos, M., & Willging, C. (2020). Recruitment of schools for intervention research to reduce health disparities for sexual and gender minority students. The Journal of School Nursing, 36(4), 258-264.

Christou, M., Gairal-Casado, R., Carbonell, S., & Vidu, A. (2024). Prevention of violence against LGBTIQ+ youth: A systematic review of successful strategies. International Journal of Educational Research, 124, 102320.

Bowling, J., Barker, J., Gunn, L. H., & Lace, T. (2020). “It just feels right”: Perceptions of the effects of community connectedness among trans individuals. PloS one, 15(10), e0240295.

Omercajic, K., & Martino, W. (2020). Supporting transgender inclusion and gender diversity in schools: A critical policy analysis. Frontiers in Sociology, 5, 27.

Powell, A., Scott, A. J., & Henry, N. (2020). Digital harassment and abuse: Experiences of sexuality and gender minority adults. European journal of criminology, 17(2), 199-223.

Aboim, S., & Vasconcelos, P. (2022). What does it mean to be a man? Trans masculinities, bodily practices, and reflexive embodiment. Men and Masculinities, 25(1), 43-67.

Rosa, R., & Clavero, S. (2022). Gender equality in higher education and research. Journal of Gender Studies, 31(1), 1-7.

Kavanagh, M. M., Srivatsan, V., Anam, F. R., Bok, L., Abinader, L. G., Sharma, A., ... & Lynch, S. (2025). Global Legal Environment for LGBTQ+ Sexuality and Public Health. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 53(1), 115-133.

Fields, X., & Wotipka, C. M. (2022). Effect of LGBT anti-discrimination laws on school climate and outcomes for lesbian, gay, and bisexual high school students. Journal of LGBT Youth, 19(3), 307-329.

Powell, A., Scott, A. J., & Henry, N. (2020). Digital harassment and abuse: Experiences of sexuality and gender minority adults. European journal of criminology, 17(2), 199-223.

Cuesta Medina, L., Hennig Manzuoli, C., Duque, L. A., & Malfasi, S. (2020). Cyberbullying: Tackling the silent enemy. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 24(9), 936-947.

Pinch, A., Birnholtz, J., Chaudary, J., Tripathi, P., Rawat, S., Dange, A., & Kornfield, R. (2024). Queerness and mental health in India: An intersectional approach to sensitive social media disclosures. Social Media+ Society, 10(4), 20563051241302145.

Tomasev, N., Maynard, J. L., & Gabriel, I. (2025). Manifestations of xenophobia in AI systems. AI & SOCIETY, 40(2), 741-763.

Chan, J. (2024). Reviewing and reconceptualising cyberbullying through a social and sustainable lens. The Social Science Journal, 1-14.

Hermaszewska, S., Sweeney, A., Camminga, B., Botelle, R., Elliott, K., & Sin, J. (2022). Lived experiences of transgender forced migrants and their mental health outcomes: systematic review and meta-ethnography. BJPsych open, 8(3), e91.

Kesler, K., Gerber, A., Laris, B. A., Anderson, P., Baumler, E., & Coyle, K. (2023). High school FLASH sexual health education curriculum: LGBTQ inclusivity strategies reduce homophobia and transphobia. Prevention science, 24(Suppl 2), 272-282.

Coleman, E., Radix, A. E., Bouman, W. P., Brown, G. R., De Vries, A. L., Deutsch, M. B., ... & Arcelus, J. (2022). Standards of care for the health of transgender and gender diverse people, version 8. International journal of transgender health, 23(sup1), S1-S259.

Gallardo-Nieto, E. M., Espinosa-Spinola, M., Rios-Gonzalez, O., & Garcia-Yeste, C. (2021). Transphobic violence in educational centers: Risk factors and consequences in the victims’ wellbeing and health. Sustainability, 13(4), 1638.

Herrmann, L., Barkmann, C., Bindt, C., Hohmann, S., Fahrenkrug, S., & Becker-Hebly, I. (2024). How social is social media for transgender and gender-diverse youth? Association of online social experiences with internalizing mental health problems. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 33(10), 3503-3516.

Nicholas, J., & Bresin, K. (2024). Everyday sexual and gender minority stress and health: A systematic review of experience sampling studies. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 53(4), 1221-1243.

Velasco, R. A. F., Slusser, K., & Coats, H. (2022). Stigma and healthcare access among transgender and gender‐diverse people: A qualitative meta‐synthesis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 78(10), 3083-3100.

Lindley, L. M., Nagoshi, J. L., Nagoshi, C. T., Hess III, R., & Boscia, A. (2021). An eco-developmental framework on the intersectionality of gender and sexual identities in transgender individuals. Psychology & Sexuality, 12(3), 261-278.

Arató, N., Zsidó, A. N., Rivnyák, A., Peley, B., & Labadi, B. (2022). Risk and protective factors in cyberbullying: the role of family, social support and emotion regulation. International journal of bullying prevention, 4(2), 160-173.

Powell, H. A., Stinson, R. D., & Erbes, C. (2022). Transgender and gender diverse veterans’ access to gender-related health care services: The role of minority stress. Psychological services, 19(3), 455.

Evelyn, S., Clancy, E. M., Klettke, B., & Tatnell, R. (2022). A phenomenological investigation into cyberbullying as experienced by people identifying as transgender or gender diverse. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(11), 6560.

Tesfagergish, S. G., & Damaševičius, R. (2023, December). Explainable Artificial Intelligence for Combating Cyberbullying. In International Conference on Soft Computing and its Engineering Applications (pp. 54-67). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.

Mahajan, E., Mahajan, H., & Kumar, S. (2024). EnsMulHateCyb: Multilingual hate speech and cyberbully detection in online social media. Expert systems with applications, 236, 121228.

Sherman, A. D., Higgins, M. K., Balthazar, M. S., Hill, M., Klepper, M., Schneider, J. S., ... & Marques, F. (2024). Stigma, social and structural vulnerability, and mental health among transgender women: A partial least square path modeling analysis. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 56(1), 42-59.

Logie, C. H., Lacombe-Duncan, A., Wang, Y., Levermore, K., Jones, N., Ellis, T., ... & Grace, D. (2020). Adapting the psychological mediation framework for cisgender and transgender sexual minorities in Jamaica: Implications from latent versus observed variable approaches to sexual stigma. Social Science & Medicine, 245, 112663.