Tag: Pakistan

First Transgender Islamic School in Pakistan

A madrasah “islamic school” for trans people was opened for the first time in Pakistan.

Rani Khan, who taught the Koran in the first madrasah for transgender people in a country where the ‘third gender’ was officially recognized and the Transgender People (Protection of Rights) Act passed parliament in 2018, said, “Most families do not accept transsexuals. They throw them out of their homes. “I was one of them, too,” said.

Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said that the madrasa can help trans people to participate actively in society and said, “I hope things will be better if this model is implemented in other cities.”

In Pakistan, where trans rights are legally protected, LGBTI+ individuals are still discriminated against. In the census conducted in 2017, it was recorded that approximately 10 thousand trans people lived in Pakistan. Trans rights groups stated that in the country with a population of 220 million, this number may now be over 300 thousand.

Previously, a madrasah for trans people was opened in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh.

Lesbians, Pakistan Islamist Society & Honour Killings

What do you do if you know that you are a lesbian in Pakistan?

A city is your only hope for freedom and a chance to find a woman to love. Cities also allow women to wear blue jeans and cut their hair short. Universities are places to challenge society in dress and speech. By nature, many university students are non-conformists and are interested in western democracies with freedom of lifestyles. However, if a lesbian gest caught in any homosexual act, Pakistani law can imprison a lesbian for life. Most gays and lesbians worst fears are family and neighbours who may decide to murder homosexuals in honour killings.

In an Islamic country, there are few role models for lesbians to follow. The internet becomes a source of information and hope. If a Pakistani lesbian does find a woman to love, they can walk down the streets holding hands, as this is a custom regarded as ‘sisterly love.’ The main problem occurs when a lesbian reaches the age of marriage which is the fabric of Pakistani society. Some lesbians buckle under pressure and marry men. There is also the struggle to love oneself in a society that considers homosexuality unnatural and a disease. Islam considers homosexuality a sin.

If a Pakistani lesbian does manage to find someone to love, many people may just overlook the two of them living together. It is a society that feels that women don’t have sexual needs or desires. That kind of woman works in a brothel!

Lesbian dating occurs on the internet and another way to date is to be part of a circle of lesbians. Professional women stand a better chance of being lesbians and marriages of convenience do occur where lesbians ‘marry’ homosexual men. Money and power are two modes of protection, allowing travel outside of the country.

It is a hard life for Pakistani lesbians and others that live in countries where ‘love dare not raise its name.’ However, love is an incredible force and when combined with initiatives can lead to a happy life. We wish all the brave lesbians in this situation, every happiness and love.

Paula, 2014, stories4hotbloodedlesbians.com