Survey findings: Impact of Covid-19 & anti-LGBT narratives on LGBTQ+ persons in Malaysia
Survey findings:
Impact of Covid-19 & anti-LGBT narratives on LGBTQ+ persons in Malaysia
Survey findings:
Impact of Covid-19 & anti-LGBT narratives on LGBTQ+ persons in Malaysia
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Criminalisation
Legal Gender Recognition
Health
December 1, 2021
Justice for Sisters, PLUHO (People Like Us Hang Out!), Diversity and Queer Lapis with the support of other LGBTIQ+ groups launched an online survey to collate information in relation to impact of Covid-19 and anti-LGBT narratives in Malaysia.
Disseminated through LGBTIQ+ groups, the survey was open between 16 July and 7 August 2021, for 24 days.
A total of 220 people participated in the survey. The survey was made available in three language options – English, BM and Mandarin. 124 (56.4%) responded in English language, 59 (25.9%) in BM, and 39 (17.7%) responded in Mandarin.
The correlation is clear between the increasing anti-LGBT sentiments against the backdrop of lack of legal gender recognition in Malaysia for trans and gender diverse people, and criminalisation on access to redress and services.
These are some key findings from the survey:
- Increased minority stress, self censorship, concerns over personal safety, and a widening trust deficit in government agencies are some of the highest scoring impacts of anti-LGBT narratives in Malaysia among the respondents.
- Comparatively, anti-LGBT statements by politicians and media sensationalism cause slightly higher level of stress among the respondents. Meanwhile, proposed anti-LGBT amendments and hate speech online show higher level of direct discrimination among the respondents.
- In total, only 5.9% – 11.4% respondents said that the four types of anti-LGBT narratives have no impact on them. The percentage of respondents who indicated that they experienced no impact at all because of anti-LGBT narratives in general remains low, at 5%.
- Only 13 respondents (5.9%) stated that media sensationalism of LGBT news has no impact on them. Among all four types of anti-LGBT narratives, media sensationalism scored lowest in terms of having no impact on the respondents, second highest level in relation to stress among respondents and highest level of multiple forms of discrimination or violence.
- The findings also show the impact of the anti-LGBT narratives among their family members. 20% of the respondents noted that they experienced increased anti-LGBT conversations at home, family chat groups or among family members.
Publication date
December 2021
Organisations
Justice for Sisters, Diversity, PLUHO & PLUsos
Writers, editors, researchers & designers
thilaga sulathireh, Justice Khor, and Chong Yee Shan