SEED is Malaysia’s first trans-led organization, with over 30 years of experience addressing the needs of key populations, including the trans and gender diverse community, people living with HIV, sex workers, people who use drugs, and refugees.
How does SEED help trans and gender diverse communities?
SEED delivers comprehensive programs through its drop-in center, including a free legal aid clinic, free STD testing, and community empowerment workshops. SEED also operates a shelter in Ampang that has housed nearly 120 residents since 2016, serving trans and gender diverse individuals, including those with refugee status from Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia, and Russia, among others.
As a GATE member, SEED brought the daily realities it witnesses in Malaysia to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) during this year’s Trans Advocacy Week (TAW). SEED’s co-founder engaged directly with global decision-makers to advocate for trans rights amid rising anti-gender movements, shrinking funding, and the push to renew the IE SOGI mandate.
“It was both an honor and a huge responsibility,” says the co-founder, “because I wasn’t just representing myself or SEED; I was carrying the voices of many trans and gender diverse people in Malaysia who often don’t have the opportunity to be heard in such international spaces. It reminded me that our stories matter, that our local struggles are part of a global movement, and it gave me a sense of hope that change is possible when we work together across borders.”
The experience was also a reminder that the future of the global trans movement is in good hands. The delegate describes being inspired by younger leaders advocating across different regions: “Seeing their enthusiasm gives me the push, and being together in one place gives me a sense of strength.”
What issues trans people face in Malaysia?
Trans people in Malaysia face profound barriers to safety, health, and participation in public life. “When we talk about criminalization, discrimination, barriers to health, violence, stigma, and exclusion from decision-making, many of us face similar challenges,” reflects SEED’s co-founder.
During the UN TAW, activists raised the alarm on legislative rollbacks fueled by anti-gender movements, the devastating impact of foreign aid cuts on healthcare and trans-led grassroots organizations, and the urgent need to renew the UN mandate of the Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (IE SOGI).
“The biggest lesson for me was the importance of strategic advocacy and building continuous, stronger partnerships” with fellow trans leaders and with allies like the UN SOGI expert at the Human Rights Council. After TAW, she felt empowered, bringing SEED new skills for engaging international mechanisms like the UN and WHO, connecting local struggles to global rights commitments, and, most importantly, new relationships with organizations that can support SEED’s work in Malaysia, potentially even as amicus partners in future legal cases. This cross-border solidarity speaks directly to GATE’s mission of strengthening a connected, resilient global trans movement.
SEED’s co-founder also joined GATE’s Membership Connect to share her experience and lessons learned and to inspire other GATE members who wish to participate in future TAWs. She left them with a lasting reminder: “Never underestimate the power of your own voice, and never underestimate your own lived experience; your lived experience is your strength. You don’t have to know everything before you begin. Keep learning, stay connected to our community, and remember that every conversation, every relationship, and every small action contributes to meaningful change.”
What will the future look like?
SEED is working to strengthen its advocacy for legal reform, improve access to healthcare and social protection, and build the next generation of trans leadership in Malaysia.
“After Trans Advocacy Week, I’m so excited to deepen collaborations with international partners because lasting change requires both strong local leadership and global solidarity.”