Avenger of the Week | Nadeem Kashish
Our Avenger this week is Nadeem Kashish, a trans rights activist and the manager of the first-ever trans-operated restaurant in Pakistan.
Rejected by family and with nowhere to go, Nadeem’s life work has one very clear throughline - providing safety and visibility for the trans community. Her rich life experiences include fighting against forced prostitution; speaking to the challenges faced by the transgender community as a radio host; and running for political office. Guided by her faith, she was the first transgender person to build a mosque for the transgender community - Rehmat-ul-lilalameen.
In partnership with Project Break the Barriers, Nadeem has opened Pakistan’s first all-transgender-run restaurant in Bari Imam, Islamabad. Project Break the Barriers’ mission is to provide vocational training to members of the transgender community in Pakistan and connect them to employment opportunities. This is significant because, during the deadliest year globally for trans and gender-diverse people, where 96% of victims are trans women or transfeminine, Nadeem is providing a safe space for marginalized groups to gain skills, build community, and show up as their whole selves at work.
In the spirit of bringing people together, breaking down barriers, and providing a space for safety and belonging, Nadeem Kashish is our Avenger of the Week.
This week’s #GenderAvenger #AvengerOfTheWeek is trans rights activist Nadeem Kashish, manager at the first-ever trans-operated restaurant in Pakistan. We celebrate Nadeem for spending her life creating empowering and inclusive, safe spaces for trans people.