{"id":18004,"date":"2018-04-05T10:22:23","date_gmt":"2018-04-05T08:22:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ilgrandecolibri.com\/?p=18004"},"modified":"2018-04-05T10:22:23","modified_gmt":"2018-04-05T08:22:23","slug":"pakistan-transgender-anchor-malik","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ilgrandecolibri.com\/en\/pakistan-transgender-anchor-malik\/","title":{"rendered":"Pakistan Newscast Airs First Transgender Anchorwoman"},"content":{"rendered":"

Marvia Malik has become Pakistan\u2019s first transgender newsreader<\/a>. Ms Malik, who was disowned by her family because she was considered a disgrace to their name, was \u201cselected on merit, not on gender issues<\/em>\u201d explained Junaid Ansari, owner of Kohenoor News.<\/p>\n

Marvia Malik wants to promote equal treatment of transgender people and hopes her work will help improve the lives of Pakistan’s transgender community. \u201cMy story<\/a> is no different from that of a hijra on the street you see begging<\/em>\u201d says Ms Malik: \u201cI 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.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Wind of change<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Pakistan many khwaja saras<\/a> \u2013 a term given to transgender and intersex people, as “hijras” \u2013 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<\/a> into a ward due to her gender. This event solicited the government to take pro-third gender actions.<\/p>\n

On March 2018, Pakistan’s Senate approved a bill<\/a> 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 \u201cthird sex\u201d and government issued passport with a transgender category.<\/p>\n

“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-gende<\/em>r” Ms Malik said during a BBC\u2019s interview<\/a>.\u00a0Advocacy group Trans Action believes there are at least half a million<\/a> transgender people in Pakistan.<\/p>\n

Barbara Burgio<\/strong>
\n\u00a92018 Il Grande Colibr\u00ec<\/p>\n

Read also:<\/strong><\/p>\n

LGBTs in Pakistan: Final Sprint for \u201cAllah Loves Equality\u201d<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n