Breaking Islamic taboos in Pakistan

It’s certainly not local but I’m intrigued by this New York Times article about a cross-dressing talk show host in Pakistan. In socially repressed areas bizarre things can sometimes take shape based on exactly how taboos are enforced. In this case it seems appears more ok for a man to dress as a woman on TV than for a biological woman to be on TV at all. While this is unfair on many levels it is also creating some space for queer people, gender variant people, and hopefully, in an odd and backhanded way, for women as well. The host seems also to be able to tackle some topics that are touchier, racier, and more politically savvy than those that a "more serious" journalist can, simply because he is garbed (pun intended) in the guise of an entertainment provider instead of a news provider. And while we may not have quite as severe rules or taboos here the same concept is evident when you look at personalities such as Jon Stewart, who can often be more poignant, and certainly more scathing, than more stoic and traditional news anchors.