The bill was prepared by the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality and submitted to the ministry for women, family and community development.
“We included the LGBT community (in the bill) with redresses, remedies and mechanisms (to protect you) if you are a victim of violence, harassment or discrimination in employment,” said activist Goh Siu Lin last night at a forum organised by human rights group Asasi.
Goh, a women’s rights activist and chairman of the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee said she hoped those in the ministry who were supportive of the bill would help it see the light of day.
JAG consists of several societies including Sisters in Islam and the All Women’s Action Society.
Other speakers at the forum included LGBT activist Pang Khee Teik of Seksualiti Merdeka, Dorian Wilde of Transmen Malaysia and Rozana Isa of SIS.
Also present at the forum was gay activist Numan Afifi, who made the news last week after criticism of his being named as interim press officer to Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman. He resigned on July 9 in view of the protests, and Suhakam, the human rights commission voiced concern over possible workplace discrimination.
Pang said it was difficult to describe the progress of the LGBT community in Malaysia, adding that it was often turned into a political issue instead.
Women’s rights activism around the world had been continuing for over a century with very few laws enacted to protect women.
Rozana, who is executive director of SIS, said Malaysians were “second-guessing” issues like LGBT because of a lack of conversation on the matter. She called for more forums and venues for the people to listen and interact with the LGBT community.
Transgender activist Dorian Wilde urged Malaysians to stop referring to the sexuality of LGBT members as a “lifestyle”, saying it should instead be an issue of rights and denial of expression.