Bangladeshi Hijras dance in the street during a pride parade. Image by Indrajit Ghosh. Copyright Demotix
Hijras, Bangladesh’s “Third Gender”, celebrate their first ever Pride parade
About a thousand Hijras took part in Bangladesh’s first ever “Hijra Pride” in the capital Dhaka last week to celebrate the first anniversary of their recognition as a separate gender by the government.
Bangladeshi Hijras dance in the street during a pride parade. Image by Indrajit Ghosh. Copyright Demotix
Hijra is a feminine gender identity that some people who are born male or intersex adopt, often labeled as transgender by the West.
Bangaldesh’s about 10,000 Hijras have long suffered discrimination. At this first pride parade, participants with colourful dresses sang and danced in the streets carrying Bangladesh flags and banners, one of which read: “The days of stigma, discrimination and fear are over.”
Take a look at some snapshots of the event:
People also celebrated with them and shared support via Twitter:
Hena Festival is the part of Hijra Pride 2014 in Bangladesh. All designers come from Hijra Community. pic.twitter.com/K1LVdZnyoU
— BSWS (@bandhubd) November 9, 2014
First ever transgender Pride march held in Dhaka being a Muslim majority country. http://t.co/RLms00Lmha #thirdgender #hijra #Bangladesh
— Lenin (@nine_L) November 11, 2014
Hena Festival is the part of Hijra Pride 2014 in Bangladesh. All designers come from Hijra Community. pic.twitter.com/K1LVdZnyoU
— BSWS (@bandhubd) November 9, 2014
Words by Rezwan of Global Voices
