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Felix's Writings and Recommended Readings
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Felix's Writings and Recommended Readings
Go to the Home Page of this Website:
Other Sheep Exec Site
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From: Felix of Southeast Asia
Sent: Wed, September 9, 2009 5:30:50 AM
Subject: Four Malaysian Transsexuals Shared Their Life Story
Four Malaysian Transsexuals Share Their Life Story
By Felix of Southeast Asia
In a ground-breaking event organized by the PT Foundation and The Annexe Gallery
on Sunday afternoon September 6, 2009 at the Central Market of Kuala Lumpur, four
transsexuals shared their intimate life stories with an attentive audience of about 50
people, mostly gays and lesbians of all ethnic groups. I had arrived a little late as the
event started at 3pm and I could only go after the Sunday service at GSMCC.
The event kicked off with the screening of a Korean film Like a Virgin (2006). The film
features a chubby Korean teenager Oh Dong-ku who wants to grow up to be
Madonna, or at least be like her. But sex realignment surgery is not cheap. So when
he hears about a huge prize money to be won in a traditional Korean high school
wrestling tournament, he signs up. While he may not enjoy such a macho sport, the
training at least teaches him to stand up to his bullies and his abusive father, while
he gets to teach his dance moves to his team mates. At the final championship, Oh
Dong-ku emerged as the dark horse and won the tournament to the delightful
surprise of everyone. While his father could not accept his dream to change sex, his
mother however supported him all the way. Eventually, Oh’s dream became a reality.
She went on to become a successful transsexual singer in Korea.
The film provided a backdrop for the next half of the event, in which four male-to-
female transsexuals took turns talking about their lives and growing up
transgendered in Malaysia. Yuki was one of them. Those of you who attended
GSMCC last year would remember her. She was a frequent visitor to the church. At
our Christmas program on Dec 20, she played the guitar and sang us a song that
she had written. Then there was Solustri, Nisha and Julya Oui. Nisha is a volunteer at
the PT Foundation for their transsexual program. Julya is a freelance writer. Jerome
Kugan of the Annexe Gallery (Seksualiti Merdeka organizer) interviewed them.
The details of their transgendered life and sexual realignment surgery were eye-
opening and at times humorous. I came away with a new understanding and respect
for transsexuals (popularly called Mak Nyahs in Malaysia). Dialogue is the best way
to dispel myth and fear of any little-known group of society. This event has certainly
shed some of the deep-seated transphobia that existed in our midst.
Among other things, I learned that transsexuals knew that they were of a different
gender than their sex organs may tell from a very young age. A person’s gender
identity is not determined by their penis or vagina, but their brain which is the
greatest sex organ. Every time they looked in the mirror, they were disgusted at what
they saw. Their gender identity did not align itself with their body. It was a very
difficult journey for them, especially in their teenage years when everybody would call
them sissy boys or identify them as gays. But they were just being themselves. The
world could be so cruel to people for being who they are.
Transsexuality has a genetic factor. I can’t tell you how it happens but something
happens in the fetus during pregnancy. As far as they are concerned, transsexuals
wanted to identify themselves as straight women rather than gay men. They take
female hormones and dress up as women. They knew they were girls with a male
body even at a young age, and one option to change that would be a sex change.
Sexual alignment surgery is not cheap in Western countries, and not every
transsexual goes for it. There is the consideration of finance, acceptance of family,
social implications, religious stigma, and a myriad of other factors. Many could not
afford it. Some did it for their boyfriends only to regret it later and then ask for a
reverse surgery which is possible but very difficult to do. Pre-surgical counseling will
be provided for any transsexual who desires sex change to assess the
consequences. They would also need the recommendation of their gynecologist. The
surgery basically involves the removal of the penis and testicles, and the
reconstruction of a vagina complete with the clitoris. It is truly a remarkable medical
feat. The patient can decide how deep in she wants her vagina to be. After the
surgery, they would be followed up with counseling and so on. It was said that in
Bangkok, one can undergo a sexual realignment surgery for a mere RM500+ which
does not come with any post-surgery counseling though.
For transsexuals, the need for companionship overshadows that of sex. Some of
them have boyfriends and even husbands (as in Jessie’s case). The greatest
challenge MTF transsexuals face in this country is that they are not recognized
legally as females. Even after the surgery, they are not allowed to have their new
gender reflected on their IC. They may change their name to one of female, but their
birth name remains on legal documents. This may cause delays at the immigration
counter as the officers try to make sense of their sex and appearance. But in the end
they always get through immigration without trouble.
Currently a group of Muslim transsexuals are attending the mosque and they are
welcomed there. It is a chance to expose themselves to the Muslim clerics to educate
them about transgenderism. When a Muslim transsexual passes away, her final rites
will be done as to a male. Which they do not mind as the dead knows nothing.
Unlike other progressive countries, Malaysia does not yet recognize a third gender.
As far as the law is concerned, transsexuals do not exist in this country. As such,
they are not protected by law. Even so, life goes on. They just have to face reality.
The bottom line is, they live a happy life knowing that they have come out to be who
they are meant to be in the fullest sense of the word.
Sent: Wed, September 9, 2009 5:30:50 AM
Subject: Four Malaysian Transsexuals Shared Their Life Story
Four Malaysian Transsexuals Share Their Life Story
By Felix of Southeast Asia
In a ground-breaking event organized by the PT Foundation and The Annexe Gallery
on Sunday afternoon September 6, 2009 at the Central Market of Kuala Lumpur, four
transsexuals shared their intimate life stories with an attentive audience of about 50
people, mostly gays and lesbians of all ethnic groups. I had arrived a little late as the
event started at 3pm and I could only go after the Sunday service at GSMCC.
The event kicked off with the screening of a Korean film Like a Virgin (2006). The film
features a chubby Korean teenager Oh Dong-ku who wants to grow up to be
Madonna, or at least be like her. But sex realignment surgery is not cheap. So when
he hears about a huge prize money to be won in a traditional Korean high school
wrestling tournament, he signs up. While he may not enjoy such a macho sport, the
training at least teaches him to stand up to his bullies and his abusive father, while
he gets to teach his dance moves to his team mates. At the final championship, Oh
Dong-ku emerged as the dark horse and won the tournament to the delightful
surprise of everyone. While his father could not accept his dream to change sex, his
mother however supported him all the way. Eventually, Oh’s dream became a reality.
She went on to become a successful transsexual singer in Korea.
The film provided a backdrop for the next half of the event, in which four male-to-
female transsexuals took turns talking about their lives and growing up
transgendered in Malaysia. Yuki was one of them. Those of you who attended
GSMCC last year would remember her. She was a frequent visitor to the church. At
our Christmas program on Dec 20, she played the guitar and sang us a song that
she had written. Then there was Solustri, Nisha and Julya Oui. Nisha is a volunteer at
the PT Foundation for their transsexual program. Julya is a freelance writer. Jerome
Kugan of the Annexe Gallery (Seksualiti Merdeka organizer) interviewed them.
The details of their transgendered life and sexual realignment surgery were eye-
opening and at times humorous. I came away with a new understanding and respect
for transsexuals (popularly called Mak Nyahs in Malaysia). Dialogue is the best way
to dispel myth and fear of any little-known group of society. This event has certainly
shed some of the deep-seated transphobia that existed in our midst.
Among other things, I learned that transsexuals knew that they were of a different
gender than their sex organs may tell from a very young age. A person’s gender
identity is not determined by their penis or vagina, but their brain which is the
greatest sex organ. Every time they looked in the mirror, they were disgusted at what
they saw. Their gender identity did not align itself with their body. It was a very
difficult journey for them, especially in their teenage years when everybody would call
them sissy boys or identify them as gays. But they were just being themselves. The
world could be so cruel to people for being who they are.
Transsexuality has a genetic factor. I can’t tell you how it happens but something
happens in the fetus during pregnancy. As far as they are concerned, transsexuals
wanted to identify themselves as straight women rather than gay men. They take
female hormones and dress up as women. They knew they were girls with a male
body even at a young age, and one option to change that would be a sex change.
Sexual alignment surgery is not cheap in Western countries, and not every
transsexual goes for it. There is the consideration of finance, acceptance of family,
social implications, religious stigma, and a myriad of other factors. Many could not
afford it. Some did it for their boyfriends only to regret it later and then ask for a
reverse surgery which is possible but very difficult to do. Pre-surgical counseling will
be provided for any transsexual who desires sex change to assess the
consequences. They would also need the recommendation of their gynecologist. The
surgery basically involves the removal of the penis and testicles, and the
reconstruction of a vagina complete with the clitoris. It is truly a remarkable medical
feat. The patient can decide how deep in she wants her vagina to be. After the
surgery, they would be followed up with counseling and so on. It was said that in
Bangkok, one can undergo a sexual realignment surgery for a mere RM500+ which
does not come with any post-surgery counseling though.
For transsexuals, the need for companionship overshadows that of sex. Some of
them have boyfriends and even husbands (as in Jessie’s case). The greatest
challenge MTF transsexuals face in this country is that they are not recognized
legally as females. Even after the surgery, they are not allowed to have their new
gender reflected on their IC. They may change their name to one of female, but their
birth name remains on legal documents. This may cause delays at the immigration
counter as the officers try to make sense of their sex and appearance. But in the end
they always get through immigration without trouble.
Currently a group of Muslim transsexuals are attending the mosque and they are
welcomed there. It is a chance to expose themselves to the Muslim clerics to educate
them about transgenderism. When a Muslim transsexual passes away, her final rites
will be done as to a male. Which they do not mind as the dead knows nothing.
Unlike other progressive countries, Malaysia does not yet recognize a third gender.
As far as the law is concerned, transsexuals do not exist in this country. As such,
they are not protected by law. Even so, life goes on. They just have to face reality.
The bottom line is, they live a happy life knowing that they have come out to be who
they are meant to be in the fullest sense of the word.
| Four Malaysian Transsexuals Share Their Life Story By Felix of Southeast Asia |
| This is an Other Sheep webpage |
From: Felix of Southeast Asia
Sent: Fri, September 25, 2009
Dear Steve
Thanks for your email.
I am now like a freelance gay journalist
writing for Other Sheep, which I enjoy
really. Someone once said I'm a born
writer. Well, what do you think? It's true
that I write better than I speak. I'm a
cautious person but I do speak my
mind in most cases.
Felix
Sent: Fri, September 25, 2009
Dear Steve
Thanks for your email.
I am now like a freelance gay journalist
writing for Other Sheep, which I enjoy
really. Someone once said I'm a born
writer. Well, what do you think? It's true
that I write better than I speak. I'm a
cautious person but I do speak my
mind in most cases.
Felix
| You can email Felix of Southeast Asia at othersheepfelix@yahoo.com |
| Photo by Steve Parelli |
Email: othersheepfelix@yahoo.com