Reading an article about the Ashtime in AVESSA magazine(on page 55) was a breath of fresh air. It filled us with pride to learn about the Maale people’s historical recognition of a third-gender role. This rich cultural heritage often gets overlooked in our country, where only traditional gender norms are acceptable.

As queer people, it is important that we know that our culture also includes people who made space for all types of  identities. More research obviously needs to be done, but it was good to read something positive about who we are as queer people.

We encourage queer people to read this article. It’s a must for those seeking inspiration and affirmation. We would also like to thank the author for sharing this important story.