Trans and gender diverse people comprise approximately 1% of the global population, yet they are disproportionately targeted by vitriol that is dominating headlines worldwide.
At a time when trans and gender diverse rights are increasingly under threat – not only in national contexts, but increasingly within the UN itself – Queer as Punk offers a powerful antidote through cultural intervention. This film follows the lives of band members of the LGBT punk band “Shh…Diam!”, led by a trans man, who carve out spaces to exist through their music while challenging conservative traditions and religious extremism in Malaysia.
Exploring key human rights issues such as state-sponsored violence, criminalization and rollbacks of civic rights for trans communities, this screening will be followed by a roundtable discussion with international trans activists on themes arising from the film with insights from their local contexts. The discussion will focus on how art can be used to bridge the gap between politics and culture.
Attendance at this screening is by invitation only.
UN Trans Advocacy Week
UN Trans Advocacy Week is a collective project by six non-governmental organizations – APTN, EATHAN, GATE, ILGA World, RFSL and TGEU – that offers trans activists a platform during the first week of the Human Rights Council. Engaging a space where trans rights are routinely debated but rarely centered, this screening of Queer as Punk provides a counterpoint to UN engagement. As anti-trans disinformation gains ground under the guise of protectionism, it is more vital than ever to humanize these debates by platforming the joy and creative lives of the trans communities. By connecting the film’s themes with broader global trends and issues being debated at the UN Human Rights Council, this dialogue offers a unique opportunity to bridge culture, identity and human rights in a more open and informal setting than typical UN sessions, bringing urgency, humanity, and nuance to policy conversations at a pivotal moment.
This film is being screened in partnership with FIFDH Impact Days 2025.