Abandoned

The transgender community is one of the most oppressed communities in the world. Transgender people suffer discrimination at all levels. Abuse against the community is common in Pakistan. They are tortured and murdered in silence. A recent viral video of a transgender person highlighted the abuse these people go through. The attitude of the so-called educated people is deplorable. According to some individuals, the community is only restricted to singing and dancing at different ceremonies. One wonders who have come up with such a degrading notion. The majority of them are illiterate and are forced to live in a segregated society with their own kind in extreme poverty.

The nation needs to realise that the transgender people are human beings – just like us – and deserve a right to good education, job opportunities, and fair and equal treatment. They should be given liberty to enjoy their rights. The incidents of violence against them will not end unless they are respected and accepted. Assuring their rights and protection is far more important than counting them in a census. It is more important that people involved in abusing and killing of the transgender people are severely punished so that their lives are not taken for granted. This abandoned community should be treated equally.

Sana Ali Bhutto

Karachi