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Bangladesh’s third-gender students may now study free of charge at its first Muslim school for trans people.

The Dawatul Quran Third Gender Madrasa, which began classes on Saturday, is the first school in the South Asian country created specifically to serve its hijra, third-gender, and intersex communities, regardless of age or income. Opening its doors to an expected 150 students, the privately-funded center offers vocational training and education in addition to religious study. It’s the first institution of its kind in the world.

“Anyone can be admitted here as soon as a transgender person is identified, no matter what age they are,” Mohammad Abdul Aziz Hussaini, the school’s secretary for education and training, told the BBC at the madrasa’s opening.

In India, the word “hijra” applies not only to transgender women living in designated communities on the outskirts of society, but to trans identities in general, including kothi and third-gender individuals. The school’s launch marks an important step toward acknowledging the humanity of these populations.

Although trans rights groups estimate that a total of 1.5 million hijras are living in Bangladesh, it took until 2013 for the country to recognize a legal third gender. In April of 2019, the community won full voting rights for the first time, and in January of the same year, there was talk of Bangladesh getting its first transgender lawmaker.

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The Guardian writes:

In an effort to integrate trans people into Indian society, Kochi’s metro has hired 23 members of the hijra community, who will start working behind ticket counters and on housekeeping teams before the end of this month. […]

Rashmi CR, spokeswoman for Kochi Metro Rail, said the new appointments were part of a wider initiative to make the trains more inclusive. […]

“People don’t interact with trans people. They live separately from society, they are not given jobs, their rights are not respected. We want to bring them into the mainstream by ensuring that people interact with them every day – on their way to work, for example.” […]

Vincy [in the photo] will start work on a ticket counter in a couple of weeks, and is thrilled: “Trans people don’t get work, not even in big multinational companies, IT firms, not in government jobs, nothing,[…] she said.”

“I hope it will be in all the newspapers and on TV channels and other companies will take notice of it and start hiring trans people.”

Read the whole story!

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Gurmah, Khunsa, or Hijra, reputedly intersex, Eastern Bengal. © British Library Board (Photo 124 (38))

The Hijra of South East Asia and India are “…a traditional community of people usually assigned male at birth who may or may not undergo castration and live as women or as a third gender. The hijra are distinct from the more modern, Western understanding of transsexual women. Their identities and status, changeable across time, have a considerably longer heritage, which is grounded in religious practice and spiritual belief”.

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Marvia Malik - Pakistan’s 1st trans new anchor 

Kami Sid - Trans Pakistani model

Rimal Ali -  Trans Pakistani model   

Grace Banu - Indian trans activist

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“No one touches me for months, I’m thrumming with it, pure as a / single marigold inside a wineglass kept by a poisoned girl.”

— Hala Alyan, from “Exile Nocturne,” Hijra

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Being transgender is not new!

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Fuck Colonialism

Hijra’s - the third gender- were celebrated in Southern Asia. They were seen as a source of fortune and fertility from the 16th century. When the British took control of the region they began to repress Hijras and thus history shapes the world we live in today.

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She-males cannot get AIDS

Maggie from Transgenders: Pakistan's Open Secret 

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One of the most dangerous states to be trans in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa called for assembly to push for transgender rights and protection. 

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2018: first year Transman will be allowed to act as a Hajj volunteer in Saudi Arabia 

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STATE VIOLENCE AGAINST TRANS WOMEN IN PAKISTAN 

Seven transgender women were arrested--for charged unknown-- and brought to the station to be ridiculed and raped. 

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Madam Boota A.K.A. Mighty Boota!

A trans gender woman who ran for office in 2016. She called upon government officials “Without electricity, clean water and safer streets my people are suffering and to end this suffering I decided to challenge those who have been here in power by running these elections to prove that a transgender cares about these issues more than they do” in attempt to prove to politicians these so called ‘savage’ and ‘ungodly’ trans people show more humanity than them. 

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This Page is For...

So those of my previous followers are probably wondering what happened to my previous blog...I deleted it all and decided to work on a new project. This is for one of my Women and Gender Studies courses I am taking at the  Uni. Of Toronto. Basically, we were tasked to focus on one topic for the semester and make an ‘object’ which showcased everything we have learned about our topic; mine being ‘trans folx in Pakistan. For me this was a topic near and dear to my heart being a Pakistani queer Muslim woman. I always wondered what it was like to be queer in Pakistan. It is something I hide when I visit back home but those who choose to live in their truth are LIIIIIVING It. This blog is not only for the struggles of trans people in Pakistan but for their successes as well! There is a ‘submit’ page as well if anyone is inclined to share something of their own as well! 

After this course is over I plan on switching this blog page into a page for all Desi Queer folx! Cheers xo

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Moorat (Urdu: مورت ) A.K.A. Eunuch’s Weeding.

This was a Pakistani Short Drama about a young boy who is close with the neighbourhood trans women. This drama follows the young boys life and how religion and strict gender roles impact his growth. 

EPISODE 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1r1qKD9EEs

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TRANS WOMEN AND TRANS MEN IN PAKISTAN

Much of the discourse regarding trans peoples in Pakistan is revolved around Trans-women. This is in part with one thing prevalent in society: misogyny. Because men are seen as more privileged and of more use within Pakistani society it is shocking to some people would want to “give up” that privilege to be treated like a women. 

But alas, a Trans-man on the other hand is seen as gaining privilege which they were not rewarded with at birth. This transition is seen as less controversial because they are “stepping up” in society. 

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Aleesha: a 23-year old Transgender Activist who was shot in the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

Another case of medical transphobia. 

While Aleesha was in the ER her friends outside were asked questions by other civilians such as “Is Aleesha’s blood HIV-Positive?” and asking her fellow Activist if she can sing and dance for him.