STUDY ON DISCRIMINATION AGAINST TRANSGENDER PERSONS BASED IN KUALA LUMPUR AND SELANGOR (RIGHT TO EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, HOUSING AND DIGNITY) CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION THE LGBT COMMUNITY IN MALAYSIA AND THE COMMISSION’S WORK 1. In Malaysia, the lesbian1, gay2, bisexual3 and transgender4 (LGBT) community is often regarded as a taboo. In Malaysia, strict conformity to the binary classification of gender, i.e male or female, resulted in discrimination against LGBT community that led to many violations of their human rights. This traditional classification is deeply rooted in laws, policies, culture and spiritual beliefs. 2. Moreover, the culture and spiritual believesLGBT community calls for equal rights are often demonise in mainstream media, whom have contributed to the negative portrayal of the community. Media reports often perpetuated stereotypes, stigmatise the community, and exposed them to security risks5. The existence of the LGBT community itself has been sensationalised and are regarded as a “threat” to society, further alienating the group. Therefore, it could be argued that the LGBT community face lack of acceptance in mainstream Malaysia. Indeed, their life in Malaysia has become a challenge and hence it would be appropriate to classify them as a marginalised group. 1 2 3 4 5 8 A woman who is attracted solely to other women A person who is identified as homosexual A person who is attracted to other persons regardless of their sex Transgender (sometimes shortened to “trans”) is an umbrella term used to describe a wide range of identities—including transsexual people, cross-dressers (sometimes referred to as “transvestites”), people who identify as third gender, and others whose appearance and characteristics are perceived as gender atypical. Trans women identify as women but were classified as males when they were born. Trans men identify as men but were classified female when they were born. Some transgender people seek surgery or take hormones to bring their body into alignment with their gender identity; others do not. (based on fact sheet- LGBT Rights: Frequently asked question; accessed at http://www.ohchr. org/Documents/Issues/Discrimination/LGBT/FactSheets/unfe-28-UN_Fact_Sheets_English.pdf on 13 November 2017 A complaint dated 2 June 2010 which was received by Complaint and Investigation Working Group (Currently knowns as Complaint and Monitoring Group), SUHAKAM. Complainant represented the interests of Lesbian, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals (LGBT). They highlighted discrimination against LGBT in the media and alleged that this was a violation of their human rights. They claimed that such negative publicity affirms false stereotypes, stigmatises them and exposed them to security risks. They seek SUHAKAM help to: 1.Protect they right as equal human being to live a life of dignity as enshrined under the UDHR; 2.Recommend the government to repeal/ review laws that criminalise consensual sexual behaviour between adult; 3. Educate the public on non-discrimination and the Yogyakarta Principles on the basic rights of sexual minorities ; and 4. Recommend the government to repeal/ review laws which restrict freedom of expression and information | Report On Transgender Persons In KL And Selangor