Kami Sid’s family fears for her safety. Kami, who happens to be the first transgender model from Pakistan, is involved in trans activism and makes many media appearances. And, speaking exclusively to The Quint, Kami says her family fears some day she might be the victim of mindless violence because of her identity.
Her family’s fears are not unconfounded. Alisha, another transgender activist, was shot at in northern Pakistan in May 2016 last year.
But this has not deterred Kami from proudly declaring her identity and using glamour as a tool in her fight. This is the first time the model and activist has spoken to an Indian news platform.
Kami’s story has made waves globally, with many mainstream media organizations hailing her stand and her work.
According to advocacy group Trans Action, there are an estimated 500,000 transgenders living in Pakistan. Even though Pakistan’s Supreme Court has declared equal rights for trans citizens, the community still lives in fear of persecution.
Against these grim facts, Kami’s story stands out as a positive reinforcement not only for the community in Pakistan, but in India as well.
And this is Kami’s message to trans people all over the world:
Be yourself, love yourself, you can do whatever you want and we are part of this world... We have to break stereotypes like this. We all should come together as a community and think about our rights, and our community.
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