A life of stigma

Every day, transgender and gender non-conforming people bear the brunt of social and economic marginalisation due to discrimination based on their gender identity or expression. They have experienced mistreatment and violence, and are unable to access the healthcare they need.
We do not even know their exact figure because the national census has no entry for people other than male and female. This too amounts to discrimination. According to a report, 55 percent people are opposed to treating transgender and gender non-conforming people equally while 60 percent people do not want to be friends with them. Although the Supreme Court has ordered the government to issue necessary documents like CNICs to them and provide them basic healthcare but this is not enough. The gravity of these findings compels each of us to confront anti-transgender bias in our communities and rebuild a foundation of health, social and economic security for transgender and gender non-conforming people in our communities. As an egalitarian society the government should introduce new schemes to ensure healthcare and education.
Fatima Sulaiman
Lahore