ISLAMABAD: The transgender people on Thursday called for an end to the ongoing violence against them.

Citizens, including transgender people, women, students and progressive organisations, attended a press conference and candlelight vigil organised by Transgender Rights Consultants Pakistan (TRCP), Women Democratic Front (WDF) and Aurat Azadi March (AAM) to honour the many transgender people who have been murdered recently, and to observe International Transgender Day of Visibility.

Speakers at both the events highlighted the spate of violence against the transgender people in recent years. They spoke about the increasing murder of transgender people in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP). An art performance with Reem and Amna Mawaz Khan was also part of the political demonstration.

The transgender people spoke about the deplorable conditions they were made to live under, and asked people of the twin cities to acknowledge their resistance against not only violence but also systemic oppression of all kinds.

At the press conference, TRCP Executive Director Nayyab Ali said: “Transgender people in Pakistan experience an unequal distribution of life chances, in relation to housing, education, healthcare, identity documentation and records, employment, and public facilities, to name but a few. We face trans-phobia that produces targeted violence against our bodies, and we will no longer stand by as you slaughter us. Now is the time we fight back.”

Farzana Jan remarked: “We demand safety and dignity. We are hopeful of what a critical trans-politics can do in this country, and want all people to fully respect our constitutional rights.”

Bijlee added: “Sympathy is not enough. We need meaningful solidarities and a commitment from everyone in our society to join us in our quest for justice.”

Pakeezah of AAM condemned the string of violent attacks against transgender people. The transgender people should not be made to endure the intolerant and hostile environment. She said the transgender persons were protesting to demand an end to violence.

Yamna Khan of WDF said: “The resistance of our transgender sisters must not only be acknowledged but honoured by all of us, and we need to stop using our own experiences of violence as the norm. We need to dismantle the gender binary instead of using it as the axis of our resistance.”

Members of AWP, PrSF, HRCP and other progressive organisations also joined the events. Participants showcased a commitment to continue their struggle of freedom from patriarchy, trans-phobia and towards the formation of a feminist, trans-friendly and equal society, in light of the International Day of Transgender Visibility.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2022