In the region of Kashmir, the role of transgender people as matchmakers has been deeply rooted in tradition for centuries, providing a source of income and social acceptance for the community. However, the growing popularity of online dating and local bands has made it difficult for them to earn a living, leaving many members of the trans community struggling to survive. Despite gaining social acceptance, the transgender community in Kashmir faces a rise in anti-trans discrimination, as well as dealing with the fact that their income sources are drying up.
In a region where transgender people have gained social acceptance as matchmakers, the role has ancient roots in the absence of other steady jobs. Transgender individuals like Shabnum Subhan, who live in Kashmir’s densely populated area of Srinagar’s downtown, have traditionally relied on matchmaking and performing at weddings to earn a living. However, the rise of online dating and the mushrooming of local bands has made it difficult for them to earn their livelihoods, leaving the trans community in Kashmir struggling to survive.
Kashmir is a conservative society, but transgender people have gained social acceptance as matchmakers for decades. They are treated with great respect at the weddings they help arrange. From the time when the marriage is fixed to the end of all the ceremonies, the matchmaker plays a pivotal role. But the younger generation of trans people has taken matters into their own hands, with Mehak Mir, president of the Transgender Union of Kashmir, residing in the old city of Srinagar with twelve trans people. They have been discussing the steps to be taken to help them sustain and find a better position in society.
Despite gaining social acceptance, the transgender community in Kashmir faces a rise in anti-trans discrimination. The 2013 government committee report stated that the trans community faced issues such as societal discrimination, which then affected their access to education, healthcare, employment, and government documents. Additionally, the Kashmir conflict had a devastating impact on the community, leading to even more marginalization. The recurrent security lockdowns in Kashmir and the recent coronavirus lockdown prevented many trans people from getting work and took a toll on other aspects of life as well.
The trans community in Kashmir has been asking the government for help for a long time, but the government always asks them to submit documents, which many members of the community do not possess as they have fled their homes to escape retribution. The community is holding on to the last threads of hope, as they cling to whatever resources they are now left with. The younger generation of trans people has started looking for alternative career options, such as working as makeup artists or starting their own beauty salons. However, for many trans individuals, the role of matchmaker is the only career they have ever known and want to continue doing, even as dwindling employment opportunities threaten their livelihoods.