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AP mocked for gushing at Pakistan transgenders finding ‘hope and dignity’ at culinary school

February 27, 2025 | | Print Article

The Associated Press ignited a wave of ridicule over a report on Pakistan’s transgender community finding “hope and dignity” at a culinary school.

Besides wondering how much Americans paid for the school via the now-shuttered United States Agency for International Development, many reactions to the article on social media leveled brutal criticism of the outlet.

“For transgender students involved in a very special project at a culinary school in Pakistan, there is more to a class than just learning the art of cooking,” the report begins.

“Neha Malik used to dance at parties and weddings for a living and was, occasionally, a sex worker. Since January, she has been enrolled in a new course for the trans community at the Culinary & Hotel Institute of Pakistan,” the AP article continues.

“The free six-month program in the city of Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural capital, welcomed its first group of 25 trans students in January; the second group of 25 began training on Feb. 1,” AP notes, adding that Malik “dreams of working as a chef in Dubai.”

Featuring others in the school in the report, the AP explained that the school “is trying to get government officials to help the aspiring chefs with visas to go abroad for work, ” according to Nadia Shehzad, the institute’s chief executive.

“There are also talks with local hotels and restaurants about jobs once the students graduate — with wages of up to 30,000 rupees, or about $107,” the article states.

“Still, it’s not easy for trans people to leave behind dancing, begging and sex work for the culinary program, said Shabnam Chaudry, a trans community leader,” the AP added. “Many wonder if society would give them work — or if people at restaurants would eat food cooked by trans chefs.”

The story and its social media post set off a wave of ridicule as many X users felt the White House was right to bar the Associated Press from the White House press pool.

Frieda Powers
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