🥸Non-partner Violence

In addition to familial violence and intimate partner violence, LGBTQIA+ people in Malaysia often experience violence on the basis of actual or perceived SOGIESC in public and private spheres. The perpetrators in these cases can be unknown persons, schoolmates, gangsters, customers or clients, authorities, and members of the public.

Trans women are particularly vulnerable to violence by self-appointed moral enforcers or vigilante groups, who perpetrate physical violence and engage in acts of public humiliation against trans women. Common abusive actions include forcibly cutting their hair and compelling them to perform religious prayers in public spaces. Trans women across the country also often report cases of property damage, theft, and break-ins in residential areas. These incidents not only constitute physical abuse but also psychological and emotional trauma. The actions of these vigilante groups contribute to a climate of fear and intimidation, further marginalising LGBTQIA+ people from mainstream society.

Documented cases of hate crimes and murder are limited to trans women, underscoring the increased vulnerability. Meanwhile, hate crimes against GBQ men are common, but underreported and poorly documented. While cases of hate crimes and murders are underreported and misreported (as victims are often misgendered), there has been an upward trend in murders.