KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (RNS) Discrimination, persecution and violence are daily battles for the estimated 20,000 transgender people in Malaysia, most of whom are Muslims. Islamic law forbids cross-dressing, and Malaysia’s government demonstrates a zero-tolerance policy toward transgender issues.
Frequent raids by religious authorities and police result in fines, arrests or both. Many transgender Malaysians have been arrested at least once, some spending years in prison. They also face high unemployment rates, homelessness, social exclusion and reduced access to health care and education.
Click on any photo below to view a slideshow documenting the everyday struggles and triumphs of Malaysia’s transgender communities. Transgender individuals photographed asked that their names not be used.
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- A transgender woman cooks vegetable soup for friends who visit her beauty salon for dinner in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on June 13, 2015. Religion News Service photo by Alexandra Radu
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- A transgender woman shampoos a client’s hair in a beauty salon in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on June 13, 2015. With no other source of income, she is a sex worker in the evenings. Religion News Service photo by Alexandra Radu
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- A transgender woman prays in a room adjacent to her beauty salon in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on June 13, 2015. She prays in men’s clothes, believing that in front of God she was born and always will be a man. She says she avoids going to mosques for fear of public shunning. Religion News Service photo by Alexandra Radu
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- SEED, or Social and Enabling Environment Development, is one of the most prominent nongovernmental organizations advocating for transgender rights in Malaysia, helping approximately 3,000 trans people get access to jobs, health care and legal representation. After the SEED center’s funding, from the government’s Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, was cut in January 2015, the former shelter, which provided overnight facilities for those in need, was reduced to a small office. Local trans people still come to the center for food, medical aid or a place to rest. Photograph taken on July, 2015, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Religion News Service photo by Alexandra Radu
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- A SEED client dries a customer’s hair on June 13, 2015, in a beauty salon she started nine years ago in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Difficulty securing a job is one of the main issues affecting transgender Malaysians. Religion News Service photo by Alexandra Radu
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- SEED employees Jessy, Sarah and Maya discuss the budget for an upcoming food giveaway event during the month of Ramadan on July 6, 2015. Most organizations advocating for transgender rights in Malaysia are community-organized, empowering trans people to fight for their own rights. Religion News Service photo by Alexandra Radu
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- A homeless transgender woman, one of the clients of SEED, adjusts the size of her jeans at the SEED headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 1, 2015. Religion News Service photo by Alexandra Radu
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- A transgender woman decorates a beauty salon in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with light garlands for the upcoming Ramadan celebrations on June 13, 2015. Religion News Service photo by Alexandra Radu
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- Members of the trans community take part in a SEED-organized Iftar dinner during Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 4, 2015. The dinner doubled as a charity fundraiser to make up for lost government funding. The event raised about RM 1,600 ($419 U.S. dollars). The government provided SEED with approximately RM 700,000/year ($183,000) until January 2015, when the government cut off its funding. Religion News Service photo by Alexandra Radu
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- A transgender woman turns to wave goodbye as she leaves the SEED-organized charity Iftar dinner in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 4, 2015. Religion News Service photo by Alexandra Radu
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- Guests arrive at the Fashion International Extravaganza pageant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 26, 2015. Public events highlighting Malaysia’s trans community happen rarely for fear that an event will be raided by the police. In June, police raided a private birthday party and arrested nine transgender women for violating a law that prohibits “a male person posing as a woman.” All nine women were fined and two received jail time. Religion News Service photo by Alexandra Radu
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- A transgender model waits for her debut at the SEED-organized Fashion International Extravaganza pageant in Kuala Lumpur on May 26, 2015. Religion News Service photo by Alexandra Radu
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- A transgender model has her costume arranged before entering the stage at the SEED-organized Fashion International Extravaganza pageant in Kuala Lumpur on May 26, 2015. Religion News Service photo by Alexandra Radu
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- A transgender model introduces herself during the SEED-organized Fashion International Extravaganza pageant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 26, 2015. Religion News Service photo by Alexandra Radu
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- Fans cheer on their friends participating in the SEED-organized Fashion International Extravaganza pageant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 26, 2015. Religion News Service photo by Alexandra Radu
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