Faridabad, India is the home to a beauty parlor run by and for the transgendered community. The owner Simmy started Queer Beauty Parlor in response to hearing about transgenders wanting a beautiful feminine look but could not attain it due to discrimination in traditional salons.
On the one hand, it’s a bit sad that up until this place opened, transgendered folk in the area didn’t have access to beauty services. Due to ignorance and hatred, people are being excluded from places not only in India, but around the globe. While there are several exceptions, this article states that women’s salons would not accept transgenders and the men’s salons would severely ridicule them.
However, this is really an uplifting story once you realize that Simmy and her support staff are doing what they love while giving back to the community at the same time. The salon has surged in popularity and they are currently preparing for the Karvachauth (days of fasting) rush.
The “Queer Beauty Salon” (its actual name) provides a safe haven for men who are either crossdressers or transsexuals and just want plain old fashioned beauty services.
As a side note, I was quite disappointed that this news outlet kept referring to the MTF transgendered people as men and exclusively used male pronouns for Simmy. In any case, I have posted the link to the article below for your perusal.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
It doesn’t surprise me that the article makes no attempt to get the gender references and pronouns correct. Like most TG subjects covered by mainstream media, the object is not to inform, but to titillate. Notice the emphasis on the word gay. While there are gay transgenders, and the majority of transgendered folk are very sympathetic to gays, most are not gay themselves. With flippant articles like this being the norm in reporting on trans issues, is it any wonder that most people just automatically assume we are gay, when they learn that we are trans?
Melissa
Excellent points, Melissa
In that same Indian newspaper was an article about the “mysterious” death of a young gg after being dragged home by her parents for marrying outside of her caste. They’re saying it was a medical problem but she was conveniently cremated before the police were informed, and they aren’t as yet being prosecuted for murder. I can’t help but see the treatment of women and of the mtf transgendered in a given society as being interrelated, if women aren’t respected than biological males who identify with these lowly creatures must surely be contemptible. And I’m not singling out India, around the world homophobia and transphobia have their roots in sexism. Sorry about the soapbox thing, but anyway good for Simmy and I hope her Queer Salon thrives. I’d give her my own business but it’d be kind of a long way on the bus!
~~~hugs, Laika
Don’t apoligize, Laika
you made a great comment, it is true that women are looked down upon in many societies and that most certainly plays a role in how people view MTF transgendered folk.
I would like to share some details about this parlor. Its a self help group of kotis(effiminate men) & TGs & started by an NGO , Pahal Foundation. The parlor offer services to community members at very reasonable price, thats not all its a training centre s well , where community members can take professional training to become a beuatician.