Her ordeal was shared by Uzma Yaqoob, who was accompanying Julie at the time of incident, on social networking site, Facebook. According to her account, Uzma and Julie were to attend a meeting at one of the country’s elitist hotels. Since both were coming from different places, thus decided to arrive at hotel separately. However, when Julie reached hotel’s check post, she was stopped by police and was subjected to discriminating behaviour and harassment.
According to the post shared by Uzma, Julie was taken aside and asked by policemen that what’s underneath her clothes? Is it a body of male or female?. A frightened Julie called her and explained the situation. By then, Ms. Yaqoob had arrived at the check post, she asked Julie to get in the car with her. While both tried to pass through the check post, they were stopped, once again. The policemen at the post denied entry to Uzma, as well, as she was accompanied by a transgender person.
Uzma then called the SHO of respective police station and complained about the behaviour, who assured them an entry into the hotel. After receiving a call from their superiors, the policemen reluctantly let Uzma and Julie pass through the check post, after 45 minutes. However, another set of bigots at entry scanner stopped them again, asking what business Julie has at Serena, ‘does she have a dance performance?’Though, Uzma explained the nightmarish experience quite elaborately, she didn’t make it clear whether or not Julie was eventually allowed to enter the hotel.
The horrendous experience shows the existence of discrimination based on one’s gender. Transgender persons have long been subjected to prejudice while they try hard to get equal rights. Julie and Uzma both work for FDI , Forum for Dignity Initiatives, which is committed to the rights of gender and sexual minorities.
