Nisha Ayub

Cops: Transgender’s murder not a hate crime

admin

Source: The Star Online

Tragic end: Sameera was found dead with a gunshot wound and her body mutilated in Jalan Pasar, Kuantan. Pic taken from The Star Online.

Tragic end: Sameera was found dead with a gunshot wound and her body mutilated in Jalan Pasar, Kuantan. Pic taken from The Star Online.

KUANTAN: There is no element of hate crime in the murder of transgender woman Sameera Krishnan.

“We are looking into the victim’s past activities and also whether the murder was linked to a kidnapping case in Klang two years ago.

“We are investigating if it was an act of vengeance but there is no indication that the murder was a hate crime against a transgender individual,” said Pahang CID chief Senior Asst Commissioner Datuk Raja Shahrom Raja Abdullah.

Sameera, 26, was the main witness in her own kidnapping case, which had been set for hearing at the Shah Alam court early next month.

In the 2015 case, she was rescued by police when her captors’ car was involved in an accident with another vehicle at the Sungai Rasau toll plaza.

Early Thursday morning, Sameera was found dead with a gunshot wound and her body mutilated in Jalan Pasar, Kuantan, after she went out to buy food.

Kuantan OCPD Asst Comm Ab­­dul Aziz Salleh said police were taking the case seriously like any other crime.

“The point is someone was murdered so police will investigate this case thoroughly according to procedure as always,” he said. Read more →

Why transgenders move in groups

admin

Source: FMT News

LGBT activist Nisha Ayub says they don't feel safe because the negative light they're painted in gives the message it's okay to harm them. Pic taken from FMT News

LGBT activist Nisha Ayub says they don’t feel safe because the negative light they’re painted in gives the message it’s okay to harm them. Pic taken from FMT News

PETALING JAYA: LGBT activist Nisha Ayub has called for an end to the negative portrayal of transgenders, saying it puts them in danger of being harmed.

“We don’t feel safe in our own country,” she told FMT.

“Look at the way we are portrayed by certain people, religious authorities and certain media. They paint us in a negative light.”

She said the negative portrayal dehumanised the transgender community and conveyed the message that it was all right to harm them.

“A lot of transgender women don’t dare to go out of their homes alone. They’ll go out only in groups.”

She said police reports about attacks on transgender persons were often treated lightly. There has even been instances when the transgender persons making the reports were blamed for the incidents, she added.

“Most of the time, transgender people don’t even want to report an incident to the police because they don’t want to face the whole scenario of being blamed for something that happened to them,” she said. Read more →

April 5 is ‘Nisha Ayub Day’ in San Diego

admin

Source: The Malay Mail Online

A letter of proclamation stating that San Diego has named April 5 ‘Nisha Ayub Day’. ― Picture courtesy of Nisha Ayub

A letter of proclamation stating that San Diego has named April 5 ‘Nisha Ayub Day’. ― Picture courtesy of Nisha Ayub

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 ― US city San Diego has named April 5 “Nisha Ayub Day” after the Malaysian transgender activist who won an award of courage from the American government.

Nisha also said she was given another award, the International Jose Julio Sarria Civil Rights Award which celebrates the work of those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, from City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez.

“Today is the most shocking day for me when the Mayor Of the City Of San Diego California Kevin L. Faulconer officially made today 5th April as Nisha Ayub Day in San Diego,” she wrote in a Facebook post.

“I could not believe it as it was like a dream for me. A day was made for me in San Diego and it’s also my birthday,” Nisha added.

The proclamation of the Nisha Ayub Day cited Nisha’s receipt of the 2016 US Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award and noted that the trans woman continues to fight for transgender rights, despite repeated arrests for dressing as a woman. Read more →

Malaysian activist Nisha Ayub is first transgender to win US Women of Courage award

admin

Source: Asian Correspondent

Nisha Ayub accepting the International Women of Courage award from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Pic: Twitter

Nisha Ayub accepting the International Women of Courage award from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Pic: Twitter

MALAYSIA’S leading defender of trangender rights, Nisha Ayub, was a recipient of the prestigious International Women of Courage Award on Tuesday in Washington D.C.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry presented the award to Nisha and 13 others in recognition for their courage and leadership in advocating for human rights, women’s equality, and social progress.

In his speech, Kerry lauded Nisha for standing up for Malaysia’s transgender community, which still faces violence, discrimination, and oppression.

He said that despite threats to her own safety, Nisha remained committed to her work because “it’s what she cares about and because she knows it’s the right thing to do”.

“Nisha Ayub – for your extraordinary work to promote societies that are more just, fair and tolerant, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, we honor you,” said Kerry. Read more →