THE nation’s hijra community – mostly eunuchs and hermaphrodites – has long lived on the margins in the Muslim nation, barely tolerated and more often abused. A new ruling gives its members some rights. …
Los Angeles Times: A small victory for Pakistan's transgenders
The court decision to bolster transgender rights, however, has raised questions of what it means to be a hijra. The term refers to a born eunuch or hermaphrodite, a group seen as marginally acceptable because their birth was God’s will. But many others even less well-regarded in society – homosexuals, transvestites, bisexuals and transsexuals – also claim hijra status. …
Some sociologists and legal experts have suggested that eligibility for new ID cards or other benefits might require a physical exam and test to see how claimants urinate. …
Editorial comment:
OII Australia does not favour urination tests, nor a third gender classification.
