Pakistan, Asia

Pakistan has witnessed invasions and settlement by the Aryans, Persians, Greeks, Arabs, Turks, Afghans, Mongols and the British. It was a part of British Raj from 1858 to 1947, when the Pakistan Movement resulted in the independence and creation of the state of Pakistan. The country is the sixth most populous country in the world and has the second largest Muslim population in the world after Indonesia. The Pakistani armed forces are the largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping efforts, with more than 10,000 personnel deployed in 2007. Being gay is considered a taboo vice and gay rights are close to non-existent. Laws are harsh yet go unopposed in most cases. If individual orientation and acceptance isn't enough, young boys in some cases are forced to delve into sexual activities with older men. Read More. Also see: Islam and Homosexuality

 

 

Being queer without fear: films on LGBTS from Iran, Pakistan

What must it be like to be a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender in a conservative country? This year, the Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival will highlight the travails of the LGBT community by screening films from countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Serbia and Israel. Still from Noor, a film about the LGBT community… Read more »

Gay man says life is easier in Pakistan than in the US

Gay man makes controversial statement in an interview with AFP, says he feels more comfortable in Pakistan than the US There are no gay bars, ‘LGBT rights’ is an unheard phrase and homosexuality is considered to be against the ruling religion – but one gay man has said he finds life easier in Pakistan than… Read more »

Pakistan: First trans woman in general election says the community is ‘more than dancers and beggars’

For the first time a trans woman is running for Pakistan’s general election in May, campaigning on an equality platform that she hopes will improve opportunities for maginalised groups. Sanam Fakir, 32, is a trans woman from Sukkur, and says she wants to campaign for equality for members of the hijra community. In Pakistan the… Read more »

Exploding the myths: Truth about gays

This sounds quite ridiculous but gays are often imagined to be promiscuous, irreligious, lacking any commitment, sense of responsibility and family values. Nothing could be far from the truth There are many anti-gay myths prevalent in Pakistan. Following are just a few of them. Substantial evidence, empirical data and scientific studies also suggest that these… Read more »

Transgender Pakistanis face society’s scorn

Rawalpindi, Pakistan (AP) — Dressed up in elaborate, feminine outfits and artfully applied makeup, they are showered with money while dancing at all-male wedding parties. But the lives of transgender people in Pakistan are also marked by harassment, rejection and poverty. Transgender people live in a tenuous position in conservative Pakistan, where the roles of… Read more »

Gay Pakistanis, Still in Shadows, Seek Acceptance

Lahore, Pakistan — The group meets irregularly in a simple building among a row of shops here that close in the evening. Drapes cover the windows. Sometimes members watch movies or read poetry. Occasionally, they give a party, dance and drink and let off steam. The group is invitation only, by word of mouth. Members… Read more »

Pakistan Opposes UN Discussion of Anti-gay Violence

Supported by all 57 nations of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation London – Pakistan and the Islamic bloc of nations at the UN have declared their opposition to the UN Human Rights Council discussing discrimination and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. A panel discussion is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, 7 March… Read more »

‘LGBT issue should surpass the elite’

Beyond boundaries Like most people, Tanvi Talwar believed that ‘hijras’ are scary. She never imagined that she could be friends with anyone from the hijra community. Until, she met Sneha. On the last day of the fourth Bangalore Queer Film Fest at the Alliance Francaise, Tanvi Talwar, director of ‘Between The Two’ spoke to Deccan… Read more »

Pakistan’s transexuals celebrate right to vote

Pakistan’s transgender community is quite excited these days. The reason behind their excitement and happiness is the implementation of Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision regarding their right to vote. Earlier, transgender persons/eunuchs locally known as “hijras” did not enjoy the right to vote. It was only in November last year the country’s Supreme Court directed… Read more »

No homosexuality in Pakistan, and other lies

While visiting Karachi University a few months back for a fieldwork assignment, I had a rather peculiar run-in with a group of clinical psychologists. All of them were involved in clinical and rehabilitative projects and had recently banded together to start a small forum to teach people aspiring to enter mental health and also to… Read more »

Gay Pakistan News & Reports 2010-11

Also see: More information about Islam & Homosexuality al-fatiha-news Middle East Youth Muslim Yahoo Group: “Queer Muslim Revolution“ Queer Muslim magazine: Huriyah, Barra Gay Islam discussion groups: Muslim Gay Men     LGBT muslim Queer Jihad           Bi-muslims Trans-muslims       Lesbian muslims 1 Gay man gets refugee status in S. Korea 1/10 2 Gay-marriage couple remanded to police custody… Read more »

Gay Pakistan News & Reports 2005-09

Also see: More information about Islam & Homosexuality al-fatiha-news Middle East Youth Muslim Yahoo Group: “Queer Muslim Revolution“ Queer Muslim magazine: Huriyah, Barra Gay Islam discussion groups: Muslim Gay Men     LGBT muslim Queer Jihad           Bi-muslims Trans-muslims       Lesbian muslims 1 Hijra community seeks HIV awareness 4/05 2 Focus on gay rights in Pakistan extremely difficult 5/05… Read more »

Gay Pakistan News & Reports 2001-04

  Also see: Islam and Homosexuality More information about Islam & Homosexuality can be found at: www.al-fatiha.org Other articles of interest can be found at: groups.yahoo.com/group/al-fatiha-news Queer Muslim magazine: Huriyah Gay Islam discussion groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/muslimgaymen     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lgbtmuslim http://groups.yahoo.com/group/queerjihad          http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bimuslims http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transmuslims       http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lesbianmuslims 1 From Pakistan to Chicago: writer, gay activist, car salesman 4/01 2 Pakistani Sentenced to… Read more »