The Struggle of Embracing Identity International Day Against Homophobia Transphobia and Biphobia
I have never had an interest in fading into the background and becoming invisible. Let's start with this powerful quote: I am who I am because I have chosen to be this way; this is my most authentic self. For a large part of my life, I felt as though I was committing a grave sin Meet Raziya , born male but deeply yearned to express herself through wearing a saree, bindi, and makeup. These desires made Raziya question her identity, as societal pressures and the judgment of those around her reinforced the notion that something was fundamentally wrong. Today, at 35 years old, Raziya reflects on her childhood, marred by depression and thoughts of suicide, all because she felt her true self was a punishable offense—the most natural version of herself was deemed criminal. However, Raziya's story is not an isolated incident but rather representative of the experiences of many transgender individuals who navigate a world that fails to accommodate their existence. Sacrificing one...