BY SABEEN RASHID
Transgenders, who are also a part of our society are afraid of going into isolation in Pakistan, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our society is bothered by isolation but the transgenders are living this way from the start, ever since they were born. Our society did not accept transgenders even in the 21st century.
It was not new for them when the government announced the lockdown because they are already homeless and away from their families. They do not have a lot of people to meet because no one wants to be their friend.
If you befriend any transgenders, you feel ashamed to introduce them to your friends or to hang out with them because your friends would make fun of you. The society has never accepted them wholeheartedly.
Living in isolation is not an easy thing to do. A normal person cannot think of living in this situation because they do not have anything to do. They are not even given an equal opportunity to study in schools. Transgenders have been fighting for their rights all their lives but their efforts have ended in vain, because no one seems to be concerned about them.
Transgenders face poverty, sexual abuse, violence, discrimination and harassment. People think they are a curse or a punishment from GOD for their parents. Their lives have gotten even more harsh because of the lockdown. The markets are closed and they do not have any way to earn and eat. They think there is no justice, fairness or humanity in society for them.
But since past few years, some of the transgenders are getting education and recognition in the society. They are also getting employed and few of them are even representing Pakistan on international level. Recently, a transgender also started working as a news anchor which is a good initiative taken by that news channel. We should appreciate them and encourage such actions.
If we become more humane towards them, we would be considered good Muslims and we would not have to be afraid of being accountable for our actions after we die. We should have a soft corner in our hearts for them and treat them as normal human beings.
Public and private companies should have job vacancies for transgenders. Their parents should not be ashamed of them because they are a creation of GOD.
(Sabeen Rashid is a student of masters in Mass Communication at National University of Modern Languages Islamabad. She can be reached at sabeenrashid1994@gmail.com)
Also Read: Children In Times Of Covid-19
