Pakistan's Transgender Tax Collectors

[Spork]

When I look around, I see that we're still having this issue, no matter what someone is. My straight, cis-gendered friends are discriminated for being of a social class, the color of their skin, their religious beliefs, their disability, their weight, their height, their gender, or their political ideologies.

Sometimes this discrimination will affect the type of education, and jobs they can get.

Examples. One of my friends, cis-gendered and straight, is a young woman of the "low class". How does she and her little brothers get by? Their mother fixes clothes at home.

This is stereotypical of "low class" people. But, do they complain? They don't. And they don't accept charity, or help.

I find myself being drawn by the same mentality of "the tax collecting job gives us bad image". But you know what? It's easy for me to be sitting in my room and say, "it's bad for us."

I know I would rather sweep the streets than do anything like that. But, what if I'm about to be kicked out of my home because I can't afford it? What if I have no one to turn to? Will I deny that job because "it's bad for trans people"?

I will never expect other trans people to make me look good. I'll look good on my own. I'll educate my friends on my own. I can't wait for the LGBT organizations to do everything for me (especially when it seems they completely overlook the T.)

I can disagree with their choice. But it's their life. It's their choice.

[Greyson]

Ender, thanks for posting this article. The article says "the community" took this gender I.D. thing to the Pakistani Supreme Court. I am not going to second guess the wishes of this community.

As an individual I do believe that not all people fit into the binary. Masculinity is not strictly a male trait nor femininity a female trait. Much of gender is constructed and not from our genetics, biology. I know you know this already. Some Trans people do fit into the binary and some do not.

As for limiting, offering tax collector jobs, I agree. I think by limiting jobs to tax collection it is transphobic and rooted in misogyny. But, if I needed shelter, food and the basics, a paying job does trump nada.