Hijra (South Asia) Hijras, (Hindi: हिजड़ा, Urdu: ہِجڑا, Bengali: হিজড়া, Kannada: ಹಿಜಡಾ, Telugu: హిజ్ర Punjabi ਹਿਜੜਾ), also known as chhakka in Kannada and Bambaiya Hindi, khusra (ਖੁਸਰਾ) in Punjabi and kojja in Telugu, is used to refer to individuals in South Asia who are transexual or transgender.[1][2] Transgender people are also known as Aravani, Aruvani or Jagappa in other areas of India.[3] It is a common misconception among South Asians that hijras are "only men who have feminine gender identity, adopt feminine gender roles and wear women's clothing".
In reality, the community is significantly more diverse.[4] In Pakistan, the hijras identify themselves as either female, male, or third gender. The term more commonly advocated by social workers and transgender community members themselves is 'khwaaja sira' (Urdu: خواجه سرا), and can identify the individual as a transexual person, transgender person (khusras), cross-dresser (zenanas) or eunuch (narnbans).[5][6] Hijras belong to a special caste.
Studies. Hilarious: VA right-wingnut Sen. Ryan McDougle gets a taste of his own (transvaginal) medicine! Cross posted from Blue Virginia As you no doubt have heard by now (unless you've been out of the country, living under a rock, or comatose), Virginia Republicans—and Republicans around the country—have been on a rampage in recent months with regard to telling women, as well as their doctors, what should and should not be done to/with their bodies.
Is it ironic or just pathetic that many of the leaders in this effort have been men like Virginia state Sen. (and Republican Caucus Chairman) Ryan McDougle (R-Mechanicsville) ? You decide. Anyway, it appears that McDougle's support for transvaginal ultrasound legislation has not gone over too well with at least a few folks, judging from the raunchy comments being left on his Facebook page. *"Quick question for you-is it normal for my period to sync up with other female-bodied people? *"Hey, since you’re so interested in my health, I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been really horny lately because I’m ovulating. *"Hello Senator. P.S. Women Post "Health" Updates on Senator's Facebook Page. By Jamie Frevele | 2:42 pm, March 14th, 2012 Good afternoon, Mary Sue readers!
Meet Virginia State Senator Ryan McDougle! He is one of the state lawmakers who has come out to ardently support the state’s mandatory transvaginal ultrasound bill, almost as if he had no idea what was really entailed in women’s health decisions that are usually made by women. He is pictured above speaking with some of his constituents, and he invites other constituents to visit him on his Facebook page! Some of them have, and they have some questions that concern their vaginas, ovaries, and uteri they have felt compelled to share with him, what with his sudden interest in the reproductive goings-on of strangers! Prompted by just one of the disturbingly numerous state-sponsored bills that require women to jump through a variety of “shaming hoops” before getting a (federally-legal and medically-safe) abortion, women have started flooding the Facebook page of Sen.
That’s not even the half of it. Christine and Andy’s Amazing Harry Potter-Inspired Wedding.