Affectionately called Ana Katang (big sister) by her family and Tshokey by her friends, she is the face of trans women in Bhutan Yangyel Lhaden Her makeup flawless, her confidence unmistakable, Tshering Tshokey, 26, stands tall behind the newly opened Rainbow Help Desk—a new initiative by Respect, Educate, Nurture, and Empower Women (RENEW) that provides a safe space for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in the LGBTIQ+ community. Having established herself as a successful makeup artist and entrepreneur with a thriving online business, Tshering Tshokey did not need this job—not for the money, at least. So, why is she here? Affectionately called Ana Katang (big sister) by her family and Tshokey by her friends, she is the face of trans women in Bhutan.
She has worked as an outreach worker with Pride Bhutan and volunteered with various civil society groups, always striving to help her community. “I am respected in the society because of the name I have built for myself, but I know I cannot succeed alone. We all need to grow together,” she says.
“I am here to empower my community, especially trans women, to find respectable jobs and the support they deserve along with helping them address GBV through services from the Rainbow desk.” Tshering Tshokey believes that identity does not define respect or success. “It is about proving your worth.
If you are capable, society will accept you—regardless of who you love or how you express yourself because if you are no.
