Twilight life of Malaysia's Muslim transsexuals

[Shana A]

Twilight life of Malaysia's Muslim transsexuals

SARAH STEWART
September 6, 2009 - 2:59PM

http://www.smh.com.au/world/twilight-life-of-malaysias-muslim-transsexuals-20090906-fcl9.html

With her tight jeans, elaborate make-up and flowing hair, Tasha looks
for all the world like a striking young woman. But her all-important
Malaysian ID card declares she is a Muslim man.

"In Islam, there are only men and women, there are no transsexuals,
and this is an Islamic country so that makes life very difficult for
us," says the 28-year-old who has been cross-dressing since she was a
child.

[Andreana Whiteway]

I live in a country where most of the citizens are Muslim.It's really hard to cope with even though there's nothing written in the Holy Book which forbids transsexuality.It's their interpretation unfortunately...

[Natasha]

What's my sex again?

http://lifestyle.iafrica.com/love_sex/love_and_sex_news/1908820.htm
9/7/09

With her tight jeans, elaborate make-up and flowing hair, Tasha looks for all the world like a striking young woman. But her all-important Malaysian ID card declares she is a Muslim man.

"In Islam, there are only men and women, there are no transsexuals, and this is an Islamic country so that makes life very difficult for us," says the 28-year-old who has been cross-dressing since she was a child.

Like many transsexuals in Malaysia, a conservative and mostly Muslim country, the clash between ID card and appearance means Tasha is shunned by employers, and forced to make her living as a sex worker.