Marvia Malik has become Pakistan’s first transgender newsreader. Ms Malik, who was disowned by her family because she was considered a disgrace to their name, was “selected on merit, not on gender issues” explained Junaid Ansari, owner of Kohenoor News.
Marvia Malik wants to promote equal treatment of transgender people and hopes her work will help improve the lives of Pakistan’s transgender community. “My story is no different from that of a hijra on the street you see begging” says Ms Malik: “I was thrown out after 10th grade and I joined a beauty salon, earned just about enough to put myself through college, but it was not easy. We have to tell parents not to be ashamed of their kids who cannot conform to the sex assigned at birth.”
Wind of change
In Pakistan many khwaja saras – a term given to transgender and intersex people, as “hijras” – are attacked, murdered, and raped. Many struggle to find employment and some are forced into begging or prostitution to earn money. In June 2016, Alisha, a 23-year-old transgender activist, died after delays in receiving medical treatment because when admitted to the hospital the staff refused to admit her into a ward due to her gender. This event solicited the government to take pro-third gender actions.
On March 2018, Pakistan’s Senate approved a bill in support of protecting the rights of transgender people, allowing them to determine their own gender identity. Khwaja saras can finally obtain official identification cards as a “third sex” and government issued passport with a transgender category.
“Our community should be treated equally and there must not be any gender discrimination. We should be given equal rights and be considered ordinary citizens, instead of third-gender” Ms Malik said during a BBC’s interview. Advocacy group Trans Action believes there are at least half a million transgender people in Pakistan.
Barbara Burgio
©2018 Il Grande Colibrì
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