Despite being human, they often have to beg for their rights, especially the right of being identified. Yes it is true, Transgenders are the most hated community in Pakistan and they do not have it easy, an inhumane reality indeed.
Let that sink in!
Focusing solely on the life of a transgender in Pakistan, a country supposedly catering to a diverse group of people, Shahzadi Rai who runs her organization called ‘PECHRA’ that is working to support transgenders and trying to end the discrimination and violence faced by transgender and lesbian. Shahzadi Rai provides a run-down of the ‘Hijra Culture’.
‘Hijra Culture’ is like a sisterhood or a shelter for transgender women in Pakistan, that accommodates them upon their arrival after they leave or are thrown out from their homes. Hijra Culture functions like foster care, where the Guru, the guardian helps the members to stand on their feet. Astonishingly in Pakistan, the majority of the transgender women join the Hijra culture as it's their only option to survive.
Like everything else, this community also has some benefits but along with it has few serious drawbacks as well. Usually, in Hijra culture, transgender women are left with only three options to earn a living: begging, dancing, and prostitution. Amongst them, Prostitution is the most common as it is an easy solution to earn a decent amount, especially since they are discriminated in other professions.
Furthermore, unlike Iran, Pakistan doesn’t allow Transgenders to get married which deprives them of their basic right. In fact, there have been researches in detail on the trans-sexuality issue in Shia Islamic laws but since Pakistan is a Sunni Islamic state, unfortunately much has not been explored, resulting in an unwarranted livable consequence for the trans community.
But evidently in 2018, a new transgender protection law ‘Transgender Person Act 2018’ was formed which was bound to bring change however due to the lack of awareness regarding it amongst the police, the general public and surprisingly among the trans community, the act is still not been implemented properly. However, activists, NGOs, and other platforms are actively working to bring about a change, empower the trans people, and provide them with opportunities and rights they truly deserve.
Unfortunately until then, trans people are stuck with the Hijra Culture and following the legacies of their elderly fellow members, which is to work non-stop as a beggar, dancer or sex worker to make the ends meet, get ridiculed and exploited by people and as they get old, take up the position of the Guru, and take care of the young members of the community.
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