Tag: transgender

  • Ruh-roh, Maria B quotes trans supporter Lady Gaga in campaign video

    .It seems that while insisting she has better knowledge about who is a real woman and who is not, Maria B should have first researched which celebrities champion trans causes.

    A video for the promotion of Maria B’s upcoming fashion brand is going viral because Mona Hussain, another vocal anti-trans rights person, was seen quoting Lady Gaga’s famous song ‘Born This Way’ in it.

    “Women empowerment is when a woman is allowed to reach her full potential in whatever way that may be. What it certainely means is that we do not need men to tell us who we are, or define our roles… In the words of the famous Lady Gaga, ‘Baby, you were literally born this way!”

    Mona Hussain is a psychologist who has collaborated in the past with Maria B in transphobic videos.

    What Maria B chooses to completely filter out here is that ‘Born This Way’ was written by Lady Gaga in support of the transgender community, and it features lyrics that encourages people to love themselves, regardless of being gay, straight or transgender:

    “No matter gay, straight, or bi
    Lesbian, transgender life
    I’m on the right track, baby
    I was born to survive
    No matter Black, white, or beige
    Chola or Orient made
    I’m on the right track, baby
    I was born to be brave!”

    Lady Gaga has also called out transphobes in interviews, for instance in an interview with Anderson Cooper, she was asked about the rumor that she is secretly a man to which she responded:

    “Maybe I do…Would it be so terrible? Why the hell am I gonna waste my time and give a press release on whether or not I have a penis? My fans don’t care and neither do I.”

  • While Twitter praises Sar-e-Rah for encouraging empathy, Maria B claims it’s actually ‘spreading destruction’

    While Twitter praises Sar-e-Rah for encouraging empathy, Maria B claims it’s actually ‘spreading destruction’

    Sar-e-Rah dropped its most anticipated episode this Saturday which explored the struggles of a transgender boy who tries to gain acceptance from his family by studying hard.
    The episode delved into how Sarim (played by Muneeb Butt) is bullied by his step-mother and brother a because of the fact that he is an intersex man, who is regularly pushed away from spending time with them. However, Sarim and his father have a close bond, who encourages him to work hard and is the only one who embraces his true nature rather than hiding it away.
    In a scene that is gaining praises on Twitter, the father and Sarim are sitting near a beach where he teaches his son that there is no shame in wanting to be feminine, and he can choose to be whatever he likes because it won’t diminish his father’s love for him.
    Prominent transgender activist Mehrub Moiz Awan praised this scene for its ‘beautiful message’.

    ‘What a beautiful message! Who wrote this scene?’ she wrote.

    Actress Iffat Omar also sent praises to this scene

    Many users praised the way this episode depicted the relationship between the father and son, as portrayed by Nabeel Zafar and Butt’s moving acting. They lauded the show for handling a tabooed in a delicate manner, and showing how important it is for parent’s to empathize with and support their children.

    “The relationship between Sarang & his father is beautiful in #SarERah this week. This father is honest with his son, loves & supports him – what every child needs, but particularly those struggling against society. Nabeel Zafar & Muneeb Butt are brilliant,” one user wrote.

    Another user praised how the show was uplifting the minorities that it depicted on screen:

    “Best thing about #SareRah is that its not depressing. There is always hope and light at the end and thats what makes it special.”

    In a time when censorship overrules freedom of thought, and many drama creators refuse to engage with the audience they are creating stories for, this user praised Sar-e-Rah for taking a bold step in crafting unique stories that tackled social issues in a sensitive but thorough manner.

    “#SareRah @arydigitalasia a breath of fresh air,every minute worth spent. Meticulously crafted stories reflect talent, passion and time spent to study each one. Brought alive by superb acting,a rare positive take on negative social issues,absolutely no loose ends.”

    Unfortunately this message did not resonate with everyone, as harsh critics like fashion designer Maria B once more stepped up to criticize the drama for promoting vulgarity and encouraging the acceptance of the transgender community. On her Instagram stories, the fashion designer said:

    “So this is how you sell your soul…well done Pakistan.

    So this kid is intersex??? And instead of following sharia and getting corrective help to become male or female, his DAD is telling him to be gender fluid!!! Like transgenders.

    Now will you wake up Pakistan??

    Is the agenda still not clear? Lannat on all the people who sold their souls and will contribute to the destruction of our kids.”

  • Why are we so scared of people who aren’t afraid to be different?

    Why are we so scared of people who aren’t afraid to be different?

    In a world full of moral policing and the constant battle between right and wrong, we get introduced to the newly-appointed Assistant Commissioner (AC) of North Nazimbad Karachi, Hazim Bangwar. The 29-year-old, commonly known as the ‘cool’ commissioner, has been called out for ‘imitating women’ as he carries himself in a certain way and because of his unique fashion sense, while others have been classifying him as transgender or even female.

    Bangwar is nothing like what one expects a bureaucrat in Pakistan to be like. Bureaucrats are generally considered serious and sober people who follow a particular dress code. Our mental image of a government servant is a man or a woman wearing spectacles, shalwar kameez or perhaps sunglasses. Some of the older lot wear smart suits with perfect ties.

    And here comes Bangwar, a breath of fresh air who defies the rules, looking like the most unconventional Assistant Commissioner in the country.

    Bangwar does not fit the bill of a traditional AC. This uber cool AC deviates from our conventional idea of masculinity and that is what people can’t digest. So we are forced to ask: why are we so scared of people who aren’t afraid to be different? Many people shared an alleged screenshot of a Twitter post supposedly made by Hazim in August 2018 that featured a rainbow flag with the tweet, “Happy Pride Month”. Hazim assured a news outlet that the post is “fake”. No such tweet can be found on Hazim’s official Twitter handle either.

    Where many were ready to rebuke him for his fashion sense and choice of living differently, there were others who said Bangwar was the change we all need. Many came out in support of the 29-year-old AC for his hard work and being a compassionate officer.

    Bangwar recently said that he can be judged by his work but whatever he does in his personal life has no bearing on his professional one. Nonetheless, the AC is being trolled online for allegedly being a transgender. Addressing the issue, he said that he is not a transgender but a male. However, the urge that people have shown to call him out as a woman or a transgender are rather offensive. One wonders: Is being a woman terrible? Or is being a third gender bad?

    In a world ready to put down people for being different, may we all learn to be unique and live our lives whichever way we like. Bangwar, through his unapologetically cool self, taught us that society and people need to change. Not you. Never you. Way to go, Bangwar!

  • ‘Joyland’ to release in India

    ‘Joyland’ to release in India

    After more than a decade, Joyland is set to become the second Pakistani film to release in theatres across India.

    Speaking to Express Tribune, the ‘Joyland’ team confirmed the report that the Oscar-shortlisted film is set to release in India and other countries as well.
    This news comes on the heels of the cancellation of the Indian release of The Legend of Maula Jatt after the film faced opposition by BJP politicians. Joyland will be the second Pakistani film to release in India, nearly a decade after Shoaib Mansoor’s Bol was released in the country.

    Despite the ban in Punjab and backlash from religous clerics, the film is among the shortlisted films for the ‘Best International Film’ category for the Academy Awards. The final list of nominations will be announced on 24th January, with the final ceremony to be held on 12th March.

    Speaking to CNN, Sadiq said that films like Joyland were important because they provided a realistic depiction of Pakistan:

    “What’s different in Joyland than perhaps all the other Pakistani films is that it is the most realistic depiction of our society without romanticising any aspect of it. It’s not something that people are used to seeing, that is, a reflection of yourself – that can be haunting but also uncomfortable.” 

    The filmmaker added, “For me, seeing a film set in Pakistan about patriarchy and gender roles and the impact of those on human beings was important.”

  • Two transgender activists barred from Fly Dubai plane because of X gender

    Two transgender activists barred from Fly Dubai plane because of X gender

    Transgender activist Shahzadi Rai has said on Friday that Fly Dubai had barred her and another transgender activist from travelling on their flight.
    Rai took to Twitter to share her experience with Fly Dubai stating that she and her Project Manager Zarish were barred from travelling from Karachi to Dubai because of her X gender.
    The activist who works with the Gender Interactive Alliance narrated the incident in a video clip.

    “We had a flight to attend our annual meeting, me and my project manager, Zarish. But they cancelled our ticket because we had written X in our gender category. This is extremely transphobic.”

    In the next tweet, Rai shared a screenshot of her flight ticket and wrote that although transgender people are a part of mainstream community in other countries, it was shocking to witness Fly Dubai indulge in transphobic behavior.
    “Transgender persons are part of the main stream in other countries but Fly Dubai doesn’t allow x-gender cards to travel, Transphobic behaviour by Fly Dubai, if they don’t allow us to travel on their plane, why did they issue a ticket.”

    Since this post was uploaded yesterday, many transgender activists and otter public figures have criticized the airline. Transgender activists like Mehrub Moiz Awan and Hina Baloch slammed Fly Dubai on their twitter accounts, and have called for Pakistan’s Foreign Office to address the matter.

    Fly Dubai has yet to issue a statement regarding the matter.

  • Activists speak out after actor Muneeb Butt is cast as transgender commissioner in ARY serial

    Activists speak out after actor Muneeb Butt is cast as transgender commissioner in ARY serial

    Actor Muneeb Butt had announced on social media two days ago that he would be playing the first ever transgender Assistant Commissioner in an ARY television serial. Butt had written in the post that this was a role that would break stereotypes in our society.

    However, transgender activists were furious about this casting choice and responded by pointing out that the role would have been more empowering had a transgender person been cast.

    Transgender activists on Twitter shared that there were many trans people who were unemployed and who deserved good, authentic representation on public platforms, hence it was unnecessary to hire a man to play this role.

    Another trans user called this decision ‘dangerous’ because the entertainment will keep on capitalising on transgender issues, rather than employ members of the trans community and bring them to the table.

    https://twitter.com/zakraaaaa/status/1608000325528522752?s=20&t=kGchs1t9Ok_hQE8mbJUakA

    So hopefully, our industry should be mindful about writing stories about minorities and be sure to invite members of said community while giving them the chance to tell these stories themselves without speaking over them. One of the foremost essential demands made by the transgender community is to be granted equal opportunity and rights as anyone else in Pakistan, and we can assure that by allowing them to tell their own stories without censoring them.

  • Saim Sadiq shares an emotional story behind a scene in “Joyland” on Alina Khan’s birthday

    Saim Sadiq shares an emotional story behind a scene in “Joyland” on Alina Khan’s birthday

    On Alina Khan’s birthday, director and writer of ‘Joyland’ Saim Sadiq took to Instagram to appreciate the actor’s talent and creative spirit by sharing how the two had bonded together before shooting a scene in Joyland where the audience meets Biba for the first time.

    You can read the full post below:

    A day before the shoot for Darling, Alina disappeared for hours. @sanajafri14 and I texted her to bring this particular pair of shoes with her that she had to wear for her first scene. The first scene this magnificently talented girl would ever shoot in her life. But Alina just wouldn’t answer anyone’s call.

    No one could trace her until 12 am at night when she finally called me from an unknown number. I could tell that she was trembling when she said she was stuck in “a situation” and just ran away from it and now needs a place to stay the night. I told her to come over.

    She finally arrived at 2 am. She had bruises on her neck from the assault that she had managed to run away from. Yet, all she cared about was that she makes it to set on time and not lose this opportunity. And in that escape, she lost her phone and handbag. All she managed to bring with her were the shoes and she kept assuring herself and me that everything was still fine because she had her shoes for her first scene. I gave her an ointment, she slept in my sister’s room and the next morning we started the shoot, cracking jokes and being chill as if nothing had happened.

    Years later, we shot for her introductory scene as Biba in Joyland and had the most cathartic experience of our lives. Both of us found a quiet room to discuss what we normally only joke about: the casualness with which we have to process the violence around us. We both cried and got the tears out of our systems because we didn’t want Biba to cry in the scene. She was going to show up with the blood on her shirt and there was going to be no explanation to where it came from. Because the everyday violence around us never ever makes sense. We hugged and cried again after packup because we knew… this was our scene.

    It’s hard for me to think of a person who is more unaware of their inspirational status in other people’s lives than Alina! You are a true heroine of our times!
    Happy Birthday, @onlyalinakhan ! Thank you for your talent, your spirit, and your magical artistry!

    You were born to be a movie star!

  • Shariat court orders Ministry of Human Rights to establish Child Protection Centre for Trans Kids

    Shariat court orders Ministry of Human Rights to establish Child Protection Centre for Trans Kids

    The Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court (FSC), Dr Syed Muhammad Anwar, directed the Ministry of Human Rights to establish a specialised protection center for transgender children.

    A two-member bench of FSC including Chief Justice Anwer and Justice Khadim Hussain Sheikh heard a petition regarding the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2018.

    During the hearing on Thursday, the Chief Justice remarked that the human rights ministry appeared insincere in the provision of rights to transgender children.
    The committee will include Rabiya Javeria Agha, Chairperson of the National Commission for Human Rights, Zamurd Khan, the Chairperson of Sweet Homes, representatives of the Akhuwat Foundation and leaders of the transgender community.

    The Court also ordered that a progress report be submitted on the establishment of the Child Protection Centre.

    During the hearing, Rabiya Javeria Agha, while briefing the honourable court about existing child protection mechanisms, said that there is already a child protection center in the Capital.

    The court also expressed concern about the treatment meted out to transgender kids by their families. The court noted that in most cases the families abandoned these children and they were then influenced by predators and mafia which led them to become sex workers.

  • Punjab: a joy-less land

    Punjab: a joy-less land

    Under pressure from conservatives, the federal government banned Saim Sadiq’s Joyland a few days before its countrywide release. After severe backlash on social media and mainstream media, the federal government finally reconsidered its decision and lifted the ban on Joyland. Less than 24 hours after the federal government decided to lift the ban, the Punjab government of issued a notice to the film’s producer, Sarmad Khoosat, saying that they cannot exhibit the film in the jurisdiction of Punjab province. Joyland is the country’s official entry for the Oscars, paving the way for Pakistan to make a name at the Academy Awards, with a bright chance to bring the Oscar home.

    So how did a film promising to spread joy, receiving a 10-minute standing ovation from the august audience at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, ended up getting banned in its own country and the very province it was filmed in, Punjab. Set in the eastern city of Lahore, Joyland tackles issues of gender and sexuality – taboo topics in Pakistan – through the story of a married man who falls in love with a transgender dancer, played by transgender actress Alina Khan. From what we understand, the story is about love, acceptance and tackling issues in relevance to gender. So the problem is basically because of the love between a transgender and a man in the movie.

    Any marginalised community in a country goes through struggles and challenges of its own. From their right to live to their right to freedom, their existence revolves around many obstacles. Pakistan is no different. The transgender community in Pakistan is a marginalised community that on a daily basis is ridiculed, harassed, abused, and given life threats. And this has been a pattern for many years. So the treatment with “Joyland” has been no different.

    The question is: what are we scared of? Does the representation of a marginlised community make us weak as a nation or does it make us stronger? How is upholding the ban in the wake of no real logic correct? How is Joyland a threat to the country’s cultural and social fabric? Pakistani cinema was in need of a moment like Joyland, until the bans which took away the joy from the land where transgenders are only laughed at, mocked, abused and not to forget, killed. It is acceptable to show transgenders being made fun of, but once they are shown as normal persons, living normal lives, it somehow becomes problematic and against social values. Isn’t it hypocritical of us? Joyland was one way people could understand and learn the pain and troubles the trans community goes through. But systems in Pakistan work and behave differently for the ones who are ‘different’. So here we are banning a film on a transgender and barring them an existence in fiction. Now imagine their existence in the real world. What is peculiarly interesting about the public outcry for the ban on “Joyland” is from people who are up in arms against a movie they haven’t seen.

    We as a nation want to see the cinema and film industry thrive — but look at what we do to people who are the reason that art, film and Pakistan can flourish. We are habitual haters of a thriving society. We just hope that Punjab, which has significantly become a “joyless land” learns from the provinces next to it, remembers to laugh, be okay to experiment and above all, becomes a joyland.

  • Let the trans live: They’re already marginalised

    Let the trans live: They’re already marginalised

    Any marginalised community in a country goes through struggles and challenges of its own. From their right to live to their right to freedom, their existence revolves around many obstacles. Pakistan is no different. The transgender community in Pakistan is a marginalised community that on a daily basis is ridiculed, harassed, abused, and given life threats. And this has been a pattern for many years. The recent propaganda about the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights), Act (2018) is extremely dangerous and life-threatening.

    The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of 2018 has come under intense criticism from some sections of society during the past few weeks with two petitions also having been filed in the Federal Shariah Court against the Act. The act was enacted in the year 2018 to guarantee transgenders’ equal rights to education, basic health facilities, issuance of CNICs and passports, and giving them a right to vote and contest elections. The Supreme Court’s decision on September 25, 2012, that said that eunuchs were entitled to all of the rights protected by the Constitution and enjoyed by other members of society led to the passing of the 2018 Act. However, now a few religious parties are seeking amendments to the act. The major amendment that is being considered is that a trans person should be allowed to change their gender identity after evaluation from the medical board instead of their self-perceived identity.

    A lot of misinformation is being propagated about the Act, including accusations: “The bill is merely a disguise for the LGBT community,” while others are saying that it is creating a pathway for same-sex marriages. There is a common misconception going on that as per the act, any person can change their ID card from M to F and F to M based on their own perception. However, that is simply not the case. The rules that were notified under this act clearly say that if you are a transgender man or a woman, you can change your identification card on the basis of your self-perception but only to X, not to Male or Female.

    A person having an X card cannot marry a person with an ID card with a male or female gender mentioned on it.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Mohsin Aziz on Monday said that the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of 2018 is “disgusting”.

    “Why do we have to protect the rights of transgenders? How can we accept the rights of gays and lesbians?” he asked in the Senate.

    Siraj-ul- Haq, the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), has said that all religious groups will demonstrate at Lahore’s Shuhada Mosque if the government does not withdraw the Transgender Rights Act seriously. He further said that the Act is more dangerous than the atomic bomb dropped by the United States on Japan in 1945.

    The question remains: why are the rights of a marginalised community such a threat? Why can some sects of society not let them live? Did anyone actually read what the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of 2018 stands for? More than 20 transgender people have lost their lives. We hope the people threatening the transgender community understands that they have a right to live and the right to dignity. Let the transgender community live: they’re already marginalised in Pakistan.