Survey findings: Conversion Practices or Efforts to Change LGBTIQ+ People in Malaysia
Survey findings:
Conversion Practices or Efforts to Change LGBTIQ+ People in Malaysia
Survey findings:
Conversion Practices or Efforts to Change LGBTIQ+ People in Malaysia
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Conversion Practices
April 8, 2023
The survey ‘Conversion practices or efforts to change LGBTIQ+ people in Malaysia’ features findings with 156 LGBTIQ persons regarding SOGIE-change pressure and the various manifestations of conversion practices in Malaysia.
Conversion practices, also known as conversion therapy, refers to a set of methods to change a person’s sexual orientation from gay, lesbian, bisexual or queer to heterosexual, or trans and gender-diverse persons to cisgender persons. It is a widely discredited practice as it is not substantiated by evidence and science.
This survey was conducted between 22 September – 9 October 2022. It was disseminated through LGBTIQ networks and available in three languages: English, Bahasa Malaysia, and Mandarin. 156 LGBTIQ persons participated in the survey.
Since 2010, the Malaysian government has intensified its promotion of LGBT ‘rehabilitation’ programmes.
According to the government, at least 1,769 LGBT people have been reached through their programmes since inception. In 2020, the state expanded its ‘spiritual camps’ to a regional camp, involving LGBT people from Indonesia, Singapore, and Brunei. Research shows that non-state actors also provide conversion practices or SOGIE-change efforts.
This survey aims to deepen understanding of the types of conversion practices and their impact on LGBTIQ people, by looking at five aspects:
- Effects of ‘ex-LGBT’ media narratives on LGBTIQ persons
- Pressure experienced by LGBTIQ persons to change their SOGIE
- Forcible SOGIE-change attempts on LGBTIQ persons
- LGBTIQ persons voluntarily seeking SOGIE change services
- SOGIE-change efforts being offered to LGBTIQ persons
Publication date
April 2023
Organisations
Justice for Sisters, Life Under Umbrella, PLUHO & PLUsos
Writers, editors, researchers & designers
thilaga sulathireh, Ken Khoo, Sulastri Ariffin, Alex McCarthy, Mars B