Renowned Pakistani designer Maria B has once again issued transphobic remarks, criticising scenes from a drama wherein a father is encouraging his son to think beyond gender binaries. She thinks the scene pushes an “agenda”, as social media users ask her to have “compassion and kindness”.
The latest episode from the Pakistani drama Sar-e-Rah showcases a candid conversation between father and son wherein the father encourages his son to think beyond gender binaries. He tells his son that it is normal for him to sometimes feel like dressing up like his father, and other times like his mother and encourages him to rather focus on his education for now.
I wasn’t expecting this but what an INCREDIBLE message by Nabeel Zafar! 👏🏼 He beautifully talked about gender differences to his son, something which should’ve been taught WAY before but we couldn’t, all because of extremist elements in the society.pic.twitter.com/kKCRTopdGB
— Saad Kaiser 🇵🇸 (@TheSaadKaiser) February 27, 2023
This scene riled up Maria B as she took to Instagram and claimed that the drama makers are pushing down an agenda. “This is how you sell your soul… Well done, Pakistan. So, this kid is intersex? And instead of following sharia and getting corrective help to become male or female, his dad is telling him to be gender fluid, like transgenders. Now, will you wake up Pakistan? Is the agenda still not clear? Laanat on all the people who sold their souls and will contribute to the destruction of our kids.”
She did not clarify what she meant by the “agenda” that was being pushed down on people.
The social media users were not happy with Maria B’s take on the scene, which they appreciated for promoting kindness and compassion.
Lawyer Muneeb Qadir appreciated the drama makers for promoting kindness and compassion. He also urged people to choose kindness and peace over bullying.
I salute the makers of this drama for promoting compassion & kindness. Maria B wants you to bully people who do not conform to your idea of ‘normal’ but I choose kindness & peace. I was once asked, ‘what if your child turns out to be trans’. ‘I’ll be proud of him’, was my reply. pic.twitter.com/E6jZtaYQQb
— Muneeb Qadir (@muneebqadirmmq) February 28, 2023
Fasi Zaka, a political commentator, said that Maria B is prejudiced since first she claimed she was against transgenders, not intersex, and now she is against intersex as well.
Maria B first was against transgenders but not intersex.
Now she wants to bring down intersex too.
First was opposing supposed “choice” while supporting biology.
Now against both.
But not “prejudiced”. pic.twitter.com/a28R4j8yEi
— Fasi Zaka (@fasi_zaka) February 28, 2023
Another social media user recalled when the designer sent her Covid-positive employee back to his native village in a bus without informing authorities or having any regard for Covid restrictions and said that Maria B only stands for “hate-mongering and money-making”.
Maria B only stands for hate mongering & money making.
What else, apart from a dedicated campaign to hate on a vulnerable community and thus be a pious princess (who threw out her COVID positive employee) could get people to be dumb enough to buy her ugly ass clothes https://t.co/I51ZAwTHUK— zainabkdurrani (@yougoglencocco) February 28, 2023
Another social media user appreciated Sar-e-Rah as the drama highlights many social issues and said the drama is a must-watch while asking people to “ignore” Maria B since she “finds problems with everything”.
Sar-e-rah is a must watch drama 💯. People like Maria B try to find problem with everything nowadays. So yeah ignore her 🙌
— Rania Malik (@its_raniamalik) February 28, 2023
On Thursday night, Pakistan’s first transgender news anchor Marvia Malik survived a gun attack outside her residence in Lahore. Netizens called the attack a “direct consequence of hate speech” carried out by celebrities and politicians against the transgender community.
