“The Lahore High Court of Pakistan took a major step in defense of transgender rights in January by including the transgender community in the March 2017 population census.

The Pakistani government has officially recognized a third gender since 2009 — a move that granted basic civil rights, such as the ability to identify as trans on official documents. However, the trans community was disenfranchised until 2012, when the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared equal rights for transgender individuals, including the right to vote as a third-gender person, as well as the right to inheritances. Before that, only males and females were permitted to vote, even though a third gender was officially recognized. By 2013, transgender Pakistanis were running for government office.” For Wear Your Voice Mag, February 2017.