In Pictures

Pakistani LGBT community’s fight for rights

Transgender people are often found living at the margins of society with low social status and few job opportunities.

Neeli Rana is a transgender activist and was at the forefront of the struggle with the Supreme Court of Pakistan to grant basic civil rights to the third gender. She's the field supervisor at the Khawaja Sira Society.

2 Feb 2015

Lahore, Pakistan – The transgender community in Pakistan has gained ground with the Supreme Court recognising a third gender on national identity cards, however, it remains widely discriminated against in the conservative society.

Transgender people are often found living at the margins of society with low social status and few employment opportunities. They generally earn a living through begging, or engaging in the sex trade, or as dancers at weddings and other celebrations where men and women are strictly segregated.

To fight discrimination and violence, transgender activists are working at the Khawaja Sira Society (KSS), a drop-in centre under the umbrella of local Pakistani NGO Naz Male Health Alliance.

The centre provides services for the local transgender community, including HIV/AIDS treatment as well as contraception awarness and distribution via its outreach programme and through its clinic.

Because of Pakistan’s conservative religious culture, political volatility and security issues, the activists operate mostly under the radar.

Saima Butt from Lahore is a 32-year-old field worker at Khawaja Sira Society NGO. She is close with the local transgender community, and helps ageing transgender people who fall into poverty.

Sara Gill speaks during an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign in December at the Dostana drop-in centre.

Jannat, 26, performs at a transgender fashion show. She has a master's degree in business administration from the University of Central Punjab and is a professional Khatak dancer.

Even though Pakistan has recognised a third gender on ID cards, many members of the LGBT community are reluctant to apply for it, because it would make it impossible for them to visit the holy city of Mecca as a transgender.

Anjeli, 24, is a popular wedding dancer from Lahore. She earns between $10-$50 for performing at a wedding ceremony.

Darshan performs the Toli, a blessing dance that is performed at special occasions such as birth celebrations or weddings.

Two transgender people depart from a wedding ceremony where they were invited to perform.

Sarah Gill, 22, originally from Karachi, is the project manager of the Khawaja Sira Society. She is two years away from completing her medical studies.

Transgender people commemorate World AIDS Day. Members of the transgender community held a candlelight vigil for the 150 victims of the attack on a school in Peshawar on December 16, 2014.

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