LAHORE: Fashion designer Maria B has once again voiced strong criticism over the portrayal of transgender characters in Pakistani television dramas.
She recently targeted the team of the drama “Meri Zindagi Hai Tu”, claiming that such depictions are subtly promoting LGBT ideologies.
Referring to Episode 19 of the drama, Maria B expressed her objection to a scene set in a girls’ college where a character, biologically male, is placed among female students.
She described this as a “deliberate act” by the producers, suggesting that they assumed viewers would not notice, but said that the Pakistani audience immediately recognized it.
Maria B questioned whether the drama industry faced a shortage of female actors or intentionally replaced women with biologically male performers, warning that such practices threaten women’s rights and job opportunities for actresses.
She further highlighted global concerns, citing serious incidents in countries like the United States, and stressed that normalizing such topics on television could be dangerous for society.
This is not the first time Maria B has clashed with Dr. Mehrab Moiz Awan, a prominent advocate for transgender rights. Their disputes have surfaced repeatedly in recent years, drawing widespread attention on social media and in the press.
In 2022, Dr. Awan was invited as a speaker at a private school event in Lahore but was removed following parental opposition. Maria B publicly supported the school’s decision, calling it “the right decision for children”, which sparked intense debate online.
Maria B has also accused Dr. Awan of posing as a male-to-female trans person and argued that such representation could send the wrong message to children. She emphasized that parents have the right to choose appropriate role models for their children.
Dr. Awan responded on social media, stating that Maria B’s claims were based on misunderstandings and highlighted her rights under Pakistan’s Transgender Persons Protection Act 2018.
Maria B has consistently spoken out against transgender and LGBT-related content in media. She previously criticized the same production house for featuring posters of the film “Joyland” in the drama “Kuch An-Kahi”, stating that such depictions conflict with Pakistani social values.
Maria B insists her opposition is to a specific agenda, not individuals, and announced that she is considering legal action regarding the issue.
Her stance has received mixed reactions on social media, with many praising it as “courageous”, while others expressed disagreement.