Bubbli Malik is a prominent transgender activist and a guru (traditional elder) of her community in Rawalpindi.
She is also a Master Trainer who has been a part of #UNDPinPakistan’s capacity-building initiatives. She has been working for transgender rights and empowerment for many years.
Recently, she made history by becoming the first-ever trans individual to become a spokesperson at the National Assembly. The speakers of the Women’s Convention including parliamentarians and prominent women from all walks of life on Friday demanded economic empowerment of women, specific measures for enhancing their literacy ratio, strict implementation of women’s welfare laws, and the death penalty for acid attackers.
Bubbli proposed allocating a special quota for her community in National Assembly to effectively raise their voice. Social media users celebrated the historical moment with posts and comments of praise and admiration.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Raja Pervez Ashraf, used gender-inclusive language to address the house on Malik’s suggestion. He changed the customary ‘Khawateen-o-Hazrat’ (ladies and gentlemen) to the more inclusive ‘Hazreen-e-Mehfil‘ (attendees at the gathering) and continued to use it afterwards.
First time in the history of Pakistan, a transgender woman, Ms Bubbli Malik, spoke on the foor of the National Assembly of Pakistan 🇵🇰. On her suggestion, the Honorable Speaker @RPAPPP
started using the word "Hazreen" instead of "khawateen o hazrat" to be inclusive. @wpc_pak pic.twitter.com/7NwuPN8hMZ— Aisha Mughal (@_aishamughal) August 12, 2022
On the other hand, another great news and a step towards progress and recognition for the trans community includes Emoon Kazmi’s appointment as a member of the Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) earlier this month.
Speaking at the FOSPAH’s celebration of the first National Transgender Day, Federal Ombudsman, Kashmala Khan, remarked, “We need to include them [transgender people] in the mainstream as Pakistan is one of the top 12 countries acknowledging the trans identity”.
Community members like Bubbli and Emoon are making waves for their fellows and are making sure that Pakistan becomes an inclusive home for everyone.
What are your thoughts about this ground-breaking and historic moment?
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