Pakistan parliament passes transgender rights bill
May 9, 2018 3:08 PM   Subscribe

Pakistan's parliament, the National Assembly, has passed the The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act (full-text PDF). Coverage at NPR states that the act "allows people to choose their gender and to have that identity recognized on official documents, including national IDs, passports and driver's licenses. The bill also prohibits discrimination in schools, at work, on public modes of transit and while receiving medical care." It still requires a signature from President Mamnoon Hussain. The NPR story and further coverage at The Independent and The Express Tribune highlight the struggles transgender persons continue to endure in the country.
posted by mr_bovis (9 comments total) 24 users marked this as a favorite
 
It's nice to see the world unexpectedly get better.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 4:12 PM on May 9, 2018 [9 favorites]


The path of progress is weird and convoluted...I mean, Pakistan sometimes struggles to enforce it's honour killing laws, and earlier this year they failed to pass a bill that would've raised the age of consent to 18(I've seen estimates that anywhere from about 10 percent and up to a quarter of girls are married before age 18).

This is a step in the right direction, but with any progressive law that passes in any country on earth, I hope it's not just moral licencing.
posted by InkDrinker at 4:38 PM on May 9, 2018 [5 favorites]


I’m a trans person and I’m checking the following things inside myself right now:

1. I’m biased towards excitement because I’m trans
2. I’m biased towards some bullshit racist biases because I’m white
3. I’m scared this thread is gonna go to shit
4. I wish the US would pass a trans rights bill because fuck! this! rights for trans people shouldn’t have to also be the cure for all social ills before they are allowed to be celebrated as wins.
posted by Annika Cicada at 4:45 PM on May 9, 2018 [25 favorites]


Why do we hate their freedom?
posted by GenjiandProust at 4:50 PM on May 9, 2018 [13 favorites]


This seems like good news and I’m mortified that the US is so far behind.
posted by greermahoney at 5:38 PM on May 9, 2018 [5 favorites]


Go Pakistan! This is all to the good. I hope it becomes law; that would be even better.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 6:35 PM on May 9, 2018 [1 favorite]


Fantastic!!!
posted by epj at 7:25 PM on May 9, 2018


Because both India and Pakistan have had large trans populations for ages (for less than savory reasons), they're both quite progressive when it comes to trans rights (especially vis-a-vis say gay rights). I think this genuine and not just posturing.
posted by peacheater at 8:46 PM on May 9, 2018 [11 favorites]


This is fantastic, and the text of the law looks really good. Well done Pakistan.
posted by Dysk at 8:07 AM on May 10, 2018 [1 favorite]


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