Transgender people in Singapore face discrimination in many aspects of their lives. They may:

encounter transphobic harassment, violence, bullying and hate crimes from strangers, family members, peers, employers or co-workers. They may also face rejection, isolation or be pushed out from their homes by their communities or religious groups.
have difficulty finding or keeping a job due to their gender identity or expression. They may face discrimination in hiring, promotion or termination.
have limited access to basic rights such as marriage, adoption, inheritance, housing, education, medical care and legal gender recognition. They are not able to legally change their gender on their birth certificates, which may cause problems in official documents or transactions. They may also face barriers in accessing gender-affirming health care or insurance coverage.
be forced to undergo psychiatric evaluations, surgeries, sterilisation, or other medical procedures that violate their bodily autonomy and dignity.
face challenges in education, such as being forced to wear uniforms or use facilities that do not match their gender identity. They may also face discrimination, bullying or rejection from their teachers or classmates. They may have lower academic performance or drop out of school due to the lack of support or acceptance.
face dozens of instances of microaggression (casual discrimination) a day, which takes a huge psychological toll. This ranges from deliberate exclusion to misgendering (using incorrect gender pronouns) and being asked invasive questions that might be seen as intrusive.
be exposed to stigma and prejudice that affect their mental health and well-being.

However, there have also been some positive developments and efforts to improve the situation for the transgender community. For instance:

Gender-affirming surgery has been legalised in Singapore since 1973, and individuals who have undergone the procedure can legally change their gender on their identification cards.
The repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code in 2022 ended the criminalisation of same-sex sexual activity between males, which was a source of stigma and discrimination for many transgender people.
The government has stated that it will not tolerate discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community at work, housing, and education, and that it will protect them from incitement of religiously motivated anti-LGBTQ+ harassment and violence.
The LGBT pride event Pink Dot has been held annually since 2009, with increasing attendance and support from various sectors of society. The event aims to raise awareness and celebrate the diversity and inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community in Singapore.

The discrimination that transgender Singaporeans face stems from the heteronormative paradigm, that is, the assumption that there are only two genders (male and female) and that one’s gender must match one’s sex assigned at birth. This fallacy ignores the diversity and complexity of human gender identity and expression. Transgender citizens have the right to live authentically and freely without fear of discrimination or violence.

Joint report on transgender issues for UPR 2021[]

See also: Universal Periodic Review: Singapore LGBT issues

In October 2020, TransgenderSG, in collaboration with Sayoni and APTN (Asia-Pacific Transgender Network), submitted the first joint civil society report from Singapore to focus exclusively on transgender issues.[1]. This was for the purpose of Singapore's third Universal Periodic Review scheduled for May 2021 at the United Nations. The report referenced data from the first nationwide survey of Singapore’s transgender community, conducted by TransgenderSG, and a research study done by Sayoni, and addressed key areas of concern, namely legal gender recognition, discrimination facing transgender students, discrimination in the employment sector, discrimination and harassment in healthcare settings, access to marriage, decent housing and shelter, and violence against transgender or gender non-conforming adults, youths and children. The submission also proposed key legislative, policy, and programmatic actions to ensure that the human rights, safety and dignity of transgender people in Singapore were upheld by both State and non-State actors.

Legal gender recognition[]

The process of legal gender recognition (LGR) is difficult. Factors contributing to this include:

the prohibitive cost of required genital surgeries that can go up to SGD$150,000 for transgender men
such surgeries being unavailable in Singapore
requiring an invasive genital examination for surgical confirmation
the significant medical risks of surgery
the lack of Medisave or insurance coverage
the violation of bodily autonomy in pressuring transgender Singaporeans to undergo major surgeries they may not want, need or be able to afford at the time.

Transgender persons with incongruent legal gender documentation face heightened vulnerability to harassment, discrimination and violence. Lack of LGR is associated with negative mental health outcomes. Only 9.7% of surveyed transgender Singaporeans had managed to change their legal sex, including 53.8% of those who had transitioned more than 10 years ago.

Educational system[]

77.6% of openly transgender students in TransgenderSG’s survey reported negative experiences in school ranging from bullying to sexual abuse. Less than a third agreed or strongly agreed that they felt safe at school, and only 24% said they had a staff member they could go to for support. School administrators had implemented unreasonable demands that pressured even high-performing transgender students to drop out of school, or sought to prevent them from transitioning or pursuing HRT, sometimes by contacting their healthcare providers without the student’s or their parents’ knowledge or consent.

In late April 2021, transgender activist and VICE World News host Christopher Khor produced a documentary in which he met with the founder of The T Project, June Chua, trans students Kaeden Lim and Lune Loh to find out more about the obstacles and difficulties they had to navigate[2].

What_Discrimination_Looks_Like_for_Transgender_Students_in_Singapore — What Discrimination Looks Like for Transgender Students in Singapore

On 27 November 2022, Channel NewsAsia published an article accompanied by a video interview with three transgender students studying at local universities - Andy Winter, Kieran Ng and Lune Loh. They lamented that transitioning was difficult and that universities could help them feel safer. They were also concerned with the use of toilets and preferred pronouns. The universities replied that they were committed to a “respectful” and “inclusive” campus; one had processed ‘several’ room change requests[3],[4].

Employment[]

A joint research study by APTN and Curtin University found that transgender job candidates in Singapore faced the worst discrimination compared to Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. TransgenderSG’s survey revealed an unemployment rate of 23.5% among transgender people not presently studying, including 14.3% of university graduates. The overall unemployment rate in Singapore was 2.9% over the same period. This affected transgender persons’ abilities not just to provide for themselves but to financially support their parents and other family. It was also a mismanagement of resources for a segment of highly educated Singaporeans to be persistently unemployed or underemployed.

Healthcare[]

Discrimination and harassment in healthcare settings discourage transgender persons from seeking necessary general healthcare, particularly in areas of sexual and reproductive health. Limited access to transgender healthcare, including restrictions for those under 21, have driven transgender youths to dangerous and unregulated avenues to obtain the hormones and surgeries necessary for their well-being.

Housing[]

Transgender Singaporeans who have transitioned but are unable to change their legal sex end up in a legal limbo where they are unable to marry anyone of any sex. This and restrictions against same-sex marriage lock the majority of trans people out of public HDB housing before the age of 35, and force many in abusive home environments to either tolerate domestic violence or become homeless due to a lack of alternative housing options. To date, only one homeless shelter openly accepts transgender residents.

Marriage[]

Negative media representation[]

Transgender people are often negatively portrayed in the media as part of a “social fad” or “ideology” that threatens the social fabric, national identity, or children’s wellbeing. Some media outlets also question the rights of transgender people to access public spaces, occupations, and sports, and spread misinformation about the health care they receive. These portrayals can cause psychological harm, stress, and depression to transgender people, and also affect their access to health care and social inclusion.

Some activists and researchers have advocated for fair and accurate media coverage of transgender people, and have worked to change the way the media represents them. They argue that media coverage should respect the dignity and diversity of transgender people, and should not treat their existence or participation in society as a matter of debate15. They also suggest that media coverage should listen to the voices and experiences of transgender people and their families, and should provide accurate and evidence-based information about gender diversity and health care.

Some of the ways in which transgender people are negatively portrayed in the newspapers are:

Using sensationalist or derogatory headlines, such as “Sex Swap Mechanic Goes Nuts at Medics” or "Half Man Gets New Breasts and Guess Who’s Paying For it?"
Focusing on the sexual or medical aspects of their lives, such as their genitalia, surgeries, or sex work, rather than their achievements, interests, or human rights
Misgendering them or using their deadnames, which are the names they were given at birth but no longer identify with
Questioning their authenticity, validity, or motives for being transgender, or implying that they are confused, deluded, or mentally ill
Framing their existence or participation in society and sport as a threat, a problem, or a matter of debate, rather than respecting their dignity and diversity

Instances[]

Censorship[]

Social[]

Hate speech[]

Transgender people, especially transwomen, are frequently subjected to slurs like bapok, pondan, ah kua, kedik and muffadet by members of the public. Articles about them in the media often draw hateful comments.

Anecdotal examples[]

Science Centre cancels discussion on sex and gender after public uproar[]

On 3 June 2024, Science Centre Singapore cancelled an event organised to discuss the differences between sex and gender following a backlash from the public[5]. In a Facebook post on 2 June 2024, the centre said the 14 June 2024 event, which cost $20 per person and was to have included a buffet dinner, would no longer proceed and apologised for the inconvenience. Ticket holders to the event, which was supposed to be held at Cineleisure, would get a refund. According to the post, the event, only for those aged 18 and above, aimed to explore the biological, psychological and cultural influences that shape the understanding of gender and sex[6],[7],[8],[9],[10],[11],[12].

By the afternoon of 3 June 2024, the Facebook post had drawn 145 comments. There were another 352 comments on a Reddit thread. There were mixed reactions to the issue, with those on Facebook mostly critical of the Science Centre’s decision to organise the talk while those on Reddit did not see an issue with the event, given that the target audience was aged 18 and above. “Thank you to everyone who have provided us with your feedback about this discussion session. The Science Centre team would like to take the opportunity to review our approach to this session,” the Facebook post said.

A Science Centre spokesperson said that the institution had reviewed the event before cancelling it and that: “Our Science Cafe session in June was intended to discuss the sociocultural factors that shape society’s understanding of sex and gender. Following online publicity of the session, we had received public feedback expressing concern about the content to be discussed in the session, as well as the composition of the speakers.”

According to the Facebook post, the event’s speakers comprised National University of Singapore Associate Professor Mie Hiramoto, youth counsellor Alexander Teh and local drag queen Becca D'Bus, whose real name is Eugene Tan. Dr Hiramoto, whose research interests are gender and sexuality, was to present insights from science and culture in redefining gender and sexuality, while the counsellor was to talk about the differences in sex and gender. The counsellor was a gay trans man, according to Oogachaga, a non-profit professional organisation working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals.

The drag queen had planned to discuss popular definitions and misconceptions of drag. Becca D’Bus said: “The context of the event, an 18+ casual, social time, is a refreshing way to engage in thinking. “I would have looked at drag across all gender presentations, masculine, feminine, and the vast space in between and outside of it, to consider, perhaps less the misconceptions about drag queens, but perhaps what else we don’t talk about or think about enough.” Oogachaga executive director Leow Yangfa said the group “is very dismayed and disappointed that the Science Centre has cancelled an event that had been planned since late last year”.

Carol Loi, a mother of two children aged 19 and 22, said she had found the event inappropriate, given its speaker line-up. The educational consultant, 53, said: “The topic is useful for discussion, just that it is not representative of good science. A better mix of panellists would show professionalism and wisdom of the Science Centre I know and respect.”

Others welcomed the talk. Writer Ng Yi-Sheng, 43, said he would have attended the event if it had not been cancelled. He was intrigued by the event’s discussion topics, which he felt were relevant to what society expects of people and what they can expect medically about their bodies. “For an institution with public trust like the Science Centre to lend its perspectives to the topic, with trans people as part of the discussion, is really important from the perspective of inclusion and equality,” he added.

The Science Centre said it organised ticketed dinner events under its Science Cafe event series. The series, which is for those aged 18 and above, promotes interest in science and curiosity. Past sessions had examined topics such as the development of mRNA vaccines during the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact of artificial intelligence on artistic developments.

Violence[]

Violence against transgender or gender non-conforming adults, youths and children includes physical, emotional and sexual violence from family members, the public or officials. There is immunity for actors promoting and practising “conversion therapies” known to lead to lasting psychological harm. There are also barriers to reporting and gaps in service provision for victims of such violence to seek relief or redress.

In Singapore, voluntarily causing hurt is not considered an arrestable offence unless specific additional factors are involved.

Definition of Voluntarily Causing Hurt[]

Voluntarily causing hurt refers to intentionally causing physical harm to another person. However, it is not automatically classified as an arrestable offence. The severity of the harm and the circumstances play a crucial role in determining whether it falls under the category of arrestable offences.

Criteria for Arrestable Offences[]

Generally, more serious offences are considered arrestable, while minor ones are not. Parliament decides which offences fall into each category during the legislative process. Crimes like murder are obviously arrestable due to their severity. However, for other offences, the reasons behind their classification may not be immediately apparent.

Why Voluntarily Causing Hurt Is Non-Arrestable[]

Voluntarily causing hurt is not automatically arrestable because it is considered less serious than other forms of harm. Exceptions exist: If a dangerous weapon is used during the assault or if the victim is an on-duty public servant, it becomes an arrestable offence. In cases where injuries are sustained, the decision to treat it as non-arrestable may seem counterintuitive. However, this classification is based on legal definitions and precedents.

Seeking Recourse[]

Victims of voluntarily causing hurt can seek recourse through legal channels. They should report the incident to the police and provide any relevant evidence (such as medical reports). While immediate arrest may not occur, the legal process can still hold the offender accountable. The police may gather witness reports, record the identities of the parties involved, and advise the victim to file a Magistrate's Complaint. Upon receiving the complaint, the Magistrate will decide whether to pursue the case and may issue a warrant for the alleged offender's arrest but this rarely happens for injuries that cause no permanent disability.

Proposed Legislative Amendment[]

A legislative amendment is currently before Parliament to relieve the police of obligations to investigate non-arrestable offences that are not of a serious nature. This ongoing discussion aims to address such discrepancies and enhance the legal framework.

In summary, while voluntarily causing hurt is not automatically arrestable, victims can still seek justice through proper reporting and legal procedures.

Microaggression[]

Microaggressions are subtle, indirect, or unintentional instances of discrimination against members of a marginalized group. The following are some examples of microaggressions that transgender people face:

Misgendering: Referring to someone using the wrong pronouns or name. For example, calling a transgender woman “he” instead of “she”.
Invasive questions: Asking personal questions about someone’s body or medical history. For example, asking a transgender person if they have had surgery.
Assuming gender identity: Assuming someone’s gender identity based on their appearance or physical characteristics. For example, assuming that someone is transgender because they have short hair or a deep voice.
Exclusion: Excluding transgender people from social events or activities because of their gender identity.
Jokes: Making jokes about transgender people or using their gender identity as the punchline.

These microaggressions can be harmful and contribute to the marginalisation and discrimination of transgender people. It is therefore important to be mindful of one's language and actions and to treat them with respect and dignity.

Discrimination against transgender people in Singapore

Contents