To explain what is it that made me realize how wrong I was, I will start by saying MyKali. MyKali is “an online conceptual social webzine”, an online magazine that started from Jordan in 2007, focusing on what can be described as taboos in a society like the Jordanian society, and the LGBTQ related topics are the mother of taboos in Jordan. The magazine proudly describes itself as “a leader, not a follower” and this year’s IDAHOT proved that it is a fact, when MyKali joined AWN, an Informal Jordanian group advocating and protecting LGBTI in Jordan, to celebrate the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT).
Despite the fact that the participants of this event was described as a small crowd, but the hope they had was bigger than any time before, a hope for a future where transgender people can be recognized as vital members of the society, a hope for a safer environment, a hope for life.
Out of the topics that were highlighted in the event, the Challenges of the Transgender Community in Jordan, was a topic by a 21 year old Transgender Activist Dana. I quote here form MyKali’s report:
“The biggest challenge that transgender members of the Jordanian society suffer from today is that the government of Jordan does not recognize them. “If you are a transgender you cannot change your name, ID, driver’s license, or passport,” Dana says. These challenges become evidently straining when, for example, you are applying to universities when your face and gender expression on the outside does not match your name on your ID card. Facing society, family, and friends is even harsher as being born in a different body is not something that you can hide or is easily accepted.
In Jordan, one can only change their name on an ID card if they can prove they have physically changed themselves, but such transforming surgeries cannot be done in Jordan. The Transgender community in Jordan needs to have more support and must achieve their full rights as dignified citizens of this country.”
The participants were joined by the U.S. Ambassador in Jordan, Her Excellency Alice G. Wells, who shared her personal experience, and also by Jana Zeineddine, an Actress and member of band Tarab 3al 7atab, Janna talked about the identity and where do we start to educate the society and change their concepts.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: