Many transpeople face a daily battle for dignity and survival in Kashmir (Picture: Getty Images)
Two months ago, Pinky was hanging out with some friends in the Kashmiri town of Srinagar, when a young boy approached her and offered 2,500 Indian Rupees (£22) for sex.
Furious, she slapped him, and a struggle ensued. ‘People were laughing, but none of them supported me,’ Pinky recalls.
This incident wasn’t just a random event in the 21-year-old’s life though – it highlighted the daily battle for dignity and survival that she faces as a transgender woman in the Northern Indian territory.
Wearing a vibrant tunic, Pinky has a calm but determined expression. As she speaks to Metro, she wraps a shawl around herself, and her eyes show both strength and a hint of sadness.
Growing up in a privileged and successful home, Pinky was 10 when she told her family she identified as a girl. In response, rather than show her love and understanding, they kicked the young girl out of her home.
The rejection cut deep. Seeking solace, Pinky found refuge with the transgender community, but life was far from easy. As she got older, she tried to make a living through traditional roles like matchmaking and singing, but she soon discovered it wasn’t enough to survive.
Pinky tried to make a living through traditional roles like matchmaking and singing (Picture: Posed by model/Getty )
Desperate, Pinky turned to sex work, a choice she would have never considered if she had other options.
‘I never thought my life would take such a turn,’ she says from her home – a modest room with simple but colourful furnishings – in Srinagar. ‘But when you’re left with no choice, you do what you must to survive.’
Traditional values
Society has long marginalised transgender individuals in Kashmir, excluding them from mainstream life. The bias against the community is strong, starting within families and extending to the wider community.
In the past, transgender Kashmiris were often accepted as matchmakers (menzimyeors) and singers. These roles provided a steady income, and people respected their skills and traditions.
In the past, transgender Kashmiris were often accepted as matchmakers(Picture: Getty Images)
However, over time, things changed. Economic hardships and the rise of digital technology reduced the demand for these roles, with many families less willing to spend money on traditional matchmaking or singing services, which were once a significant part of cultural gatherings and celebrations.
With the once-reliable work for transgender people slowly drying up, many struggled to make a living.
At first, Pinky lived off of her savings and small loans and worked as a daily-wage labourer in Srinagar. ‘I bought my everyday needs on debt. We had only tea and roti thrice a day to beat the hunger,’ she remembers.
‘I tried everything I could, but every path seemed blocked. When you are left with nothing — no support, no way to earn, no one to turn to — you reach a point where you do what you must to survive.
‘That’s when I went to Srinagar’s Nowgam area [a region known for sex work] for my first client,” she adds. ‘ It was the hardest choice I’ve ever had to make, and I did it because I felt I had no other way.’
Pinky grew up in the town of Srinagar, Kashmir (Picture: Getty Images)
Pinky isn’t alone. With many transgender people out of traditional work, it’s hard to find another source of income due to societal stigma. This constant harassment at work and in public has pushed manyto the edge, forcing them into sex work to survive.
Sex for survival
‘We noticed a rise in sex work after the first COVID lockdown. While there were about 30 trans people involved in sex work before, there are now around 150,’ Dr. Aijaz Ahmad Bund, a Srinagar-based LGBTQIA+ activist, tells Metro
“The main reason many transgender individuals turn to sex work is due to societal exclusion. If they were given equal opportunities and respect, they wouldn’t have to resort to this. Widespread discrimination makes it almost impossible for them to find decent jobs.”
Bunty, a 33-year-old from North Kashmir, has faced unimaginable hardship. Abused sexually by villagers during her childhood, she had no choice but to flee her home. The trauma she experienced led to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a condition she continues to grapple with.
There has been a rise of sex work since the pandemic (Credits: Getty Images)
With nowhere else to turn, Bunty found herself in a dire situation where sex work became her only option for survival.
‘I had no other choice but to run away,’ she reflects.
Although Bunty would have preferred to go down the traditional trans work route, such as matchmaking or singing, by the time she needed a way to support herself, these options were already disappearing.
‘I had tried everything I could think of to escape my situation, but nothing worked. I moved from place to place, looking for safety and support, but found only more hardship. With each attempt to find help failing, I felt increasingly trapped and desperate.
‘Finally, when every other possibility was exhausted, I turned to sex work as a last resort. It was never something I wanted, but it became the only way to survive and meet my basic needs. Each day was a struggle, but it was a way to keep going when I had no other choice,’ she adds.
13 years ago it was reported there was over 4,000 transgender people in Jammu and Kashmir – a figure thought to be much higher in 2024 (Picture: Getty)
According to the 2011 Indian census, there are 4,137 transgender people in Jammu and Kashmir – 13 years on, it’s unclear what the true figure is now, but it is expected to be far higher. However, what is known from the census is that the literacy rate among transgender individuals in the region is 49.2%, making it harder for transgender people to secure gainful employment.
Noori, a sex worker, navigated the streets of Srinagar after being abandoned by their family when they came out as transgender at the age of 15.
Initially, Noori lived off the kindness of fellow transgender individuals in the city. One of their early memories is of a man who approached them on the street, offering money for their sexual services. Desperate and without other means to survive, Noori agreed, using the Rs 700 (approximately £6) they received to buy food and necessities.
Transgender people often struggle with the cost of living (Picture: Getty Images)
Determined to build a better life, Noori joined other transgender performers at weddings, singing and dancing to earn a living, however their income was minimal so they also tried to work in a local cosmetic and retail shops, but was discriminated against for being trans.
Eventually, Noori turned to sex work top up her income. When they were assaulted by a client in September 2023, Noori knew they needed to be a better support network within the trans sex worker community.
Despite the trauma, Noori continued in sex work as it was their only means to pay the bills – but made sure they developed a network with others in the same position, so everyone in the community could share contact and support, so they could navigate challenges and improve their chances of survival and well-being.
Fighting for their rights
In a bid to gain support in 2019, the Indian government vowed to improve LGBTQ+ rights to benefit gender and sexual minorities by promising better equality and opportunities.
Members of the trans community protesting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Picture: Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images)
The move was meant to attract urban voters who liked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promises of economic growth but were concerned about his conservative views on social issues. However, this shift didn’t actually help marginalised groups. Instead, it was used to justify stricter control and more authoritarian policies, which often made life even harder for these communities.
“Within the transgender community, there is some support, but strict norms also apply,’ explains Dr Bund. ‘Becoming a sex worker often leads to greater exclusion, as they are rejected not just by society but also by their own community, which makes their situation even harder,” he added.
Discrimination affects every part of transgender people’s lives, including healthcare and housing. Many face challenges when trying to get medical treatment, often encountering bias and insensitivity from healthcare providers. This lack of access to essential services makes their marginalization worse and keeps them trapped in poverty.
Discrimination affects every part of transgender people’s lives (Picture: Getty Images)
Bunty describes a hospital visit, saying, ‘The doctor didn’t even look at me. They treated me like I wasn’t worth their time. It’s humiliating and makes you feel like you don’t matter.’ Bunty felt ignored and disrespected, as if their concerns were not important.
This experience was not only humiliating but also made Bunty feel undervalued and dismissed. Such treatment underscores the emotional toll of feeling disregarded and the negative impact it can have on one’s sense of worth and well-being.
Dr. Aijaz Ahmad Bund is working hard to make a difference. Their efforts focus on raising awareness about the challenges faced by transgender people and pushing for changes in policies to ensure equal rights and opportunities. They advocate for anti-discrimination laws, improved access to education and jobs, and stronger social support systems.
Despite the challenges, there is hope for the future, insists Dr Bund. Growing awareness and visibility of transgender issues have led to some positive changes, while in recent years, efforts have been made to include transgender individuals in government programs and policies.
While these initiatives are still in the early stages, they represent important steps towards greater inclusion and equality.
“Education is crucial,,’ explains Dr Bund. ‘We need to inform the public about transgender issues to reduce stigma and create a more inclusive society. Only then will we start to see real change.’
