Sadly, our government has failed to provide any kind of basic or legal rights to them
KARACHI: Members of the transgender community are usually treated with contempt and few are willing to give them any respect at all. They face abuse in every sphere of life and other people, due to their typical mindsets, consider their existence and conduct disgraceful and a stain upon society.
They are also treated differently, and are rarely allowed to get an education. Even the ones who are educated are not given any jobs and hence they end up being pushed towards poverty. The only livelihood option left for them is by dancing in private parties for the entertainment of others. These individuals are, perhaps, facing the severest form of discrimination compared to all the other minority groups in Pakistan. Unless a change from within emanates, they may continue to be abused for years to come.
Sadly, our government has failed to provide any kind of basic or legal rights to them. They should be encouraged to get educated, to apply for any job they want and be treated like normal citizens of the country. This way, they can live a respectful and prosperous life. But we must all reach out to them and give them some support and encouragement. It is time we, as a society, changed our mindsets and became better humans.
Falak Ibrahim
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2017.
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