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Transbefrienders’ Field Trip to Bangkok: Exploring Transgender Care Together

20 April, 2024

At Transbefrienders, supporting transgender individuals in Singapore is at the heart of everything we do. Recently, our executive team had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Bangkok—a city known for its caring and progressive approach to transgender healthcare. This field trip was more than just a learning experience; it was a chance for us to see firsthand how different practices in transgender care can benefit a community. We returned with fresh ideas and a renewed sense of purpose for how we can continue to support our community here at home.

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Why Bangkok?

Bangkok has become an important hub for transgender healthcare, offering both high-quality medical support and a welcoming approach to care. With experienced clinics and professionals who specialise in areas like gender-affirming surgeries, hormone therapy, and counseling, Bangkok is a destination for people seeking accessible and understanding care. For us, this visit was a chance to experience different approaches that could help us grow, connect, and enhance the ways we serve. Learning in Bangkok felt like a meaningful step on our path to broadening our support services.

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Learning from Thailand’s Leading Experts

Throughout our trip, we were honoured to meet with Bangkok’s leading healthcare provider, Tangerine Clinic, including specialists in medical and mental health care. They shared valuable insights about how they work to support their clients holistically—offering physical, emotional, and social support during each step of their journey. This perspective on transgender care reinforced the importance of creating a network of support that addresses the whole person, not just their medical needs.

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Our team also had the chance to meet with Joe Wong, Executive Director of regional community organisation, Asia-Pacific Transgender Network (APTN), that work to make sure transgender individuals feel seen, heard, and valued. He shared stories of building supportive environments and connecting people to resources and community support. Seeing how APTN address unique challenges, like social stigma and mental health, inspired us with ideas for nurturing connections and new services back in Singapore. It was incredibly heartening to learn from friends who are as passionate as we are about helping others feel safe and understood.

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Bringing These Experiences Home

Our time in Bangkok left us feeling more inspired than ever to support the community in Singapore. The practices we observed have sparked ideas for ways we can make our own support services even more accessible, welcoming, and caring. From refining mental health resources to building relationships with local healthcare providers, we’re excited to put what we’ve learned into action. It was an eye-opening experience, and we’re eager to take small steps that might make a big difference for those we serve.

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Looking Ahead Together

As we bring these new ideas home, we feel grateful to have shared this experience together. This journey helped us deepen our commitment to creating a safe, caring space for our community. We look forward to continuing this journey, side by side with all of you, and to sharing updates as we explore new ways to support and uplift each other.

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Thank you for following along with us. We’re excited for what’s next, and we’re here to share it with you every step of the way!

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Empowering Transgender Youths

31 March, 2024

On March 31, 2024, as the world marked Transgender Day of Visibility, Transbefrienders launched its 2024 theme: "Empowering Transgender Youth." This day, dedicated to celebrating the lives and contributions of transgender individuals, became the perfect backdrop for unveiling our campaign aimed at fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for transgender youth.

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Our journey began with the release of a powerful video featuring our dedicated team members. Through their voices and stories, we sought to highlight the challenges faced by transgender youth while also celebrating their strength, resilience, and potential. This video is not just a call for visibility but a testament to the collective will to create a world where every young person, regardless of their gender identity, can thrive.

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Transgender youth often navigate a labyrinth of societal, familial, and personal challenges. Discrimination, bullying, and a lack of acceptance can severely impact their mental and emotional well-being. Studies show that transgender youth are at a higher risk of depression, anxiety, and suicide. These stark realities underscore the urgent need for comprehensive support systems that nurture their growth.

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Transbefrienders is committed to being a beacon of hope and support. We provide resources, mentorship, and safe spaces where transgender youth can express themselves freely and without fear. Our programmes are designed to empower them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to face the world head-on. From educational workshops and peer support groups to academic tuitions and community events, we are building a network of support that spans across schools, homes, and communities.

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We believe that empowering transgender youth is not just about providing support but also about raising awareness. We work tirelessly to ensure equality, protection, and inclusion. By collaborating with educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders, we aim to dismantle the barriers that prevent transgender youth from accessing the opportunities they deserve.

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As we embark on this journey, we invite you to join us. Your support, whether through volunteering, donating, or spreading awareness, is invaluable. Together, we can create a world where every transgender youth feels valued, supported, and empowered to pursue their dreams.

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On this Transgender Day of Visibility, let us reaffirm our commitment to a future where all transgender youth are seen, heard, and celebrated. Let us stand together, united in our mission to empower and uplift the next generation of transgender leaders, thinkers, and change-makers.

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Join us in making a difference. Empower a youth. Change a life.

 

You can watch the video here.

Transgender Day of Remembrance 2023

20 November, 2023

As we commemorate Trans Day of Remembrance, let's not only remember the lives lost but also reflect on the mental health challenges faced by the trans community. In a world that often marginalizes and misunderstands, the impact on mental well-being can be profound.

Today, Transbefrienders pledge to create a more inclusive, empathetic space where everyone's mental health is valued. This pledge is not just a promise towards the greater community but also a new initiative that our committee team is working towards in supporting the mental health of all our team members.

We would also like to take this momentous opportunity to announce a partnership with Monfort Care, a network of programmes committed to improving the lives of individuals, families and the community facing transitional challenges. Transbefrienders is honoured to be under the guidance and mentorship of their team of social service professionals who strive to provide community-based social services to empower lives and strengthen communities. They will be providing counseling and group supervision for our befrienders to enhance the amazing work with our youth!

Here’s to remembering with a commitment to support and uplift each other.

Transbefrienders and Montfort Care members

Our Statement on Housing Transgender Inmates

9 November, 2023

We are relieved to learn that the safety of all incarcerated persons are taken into consideration in the prison system. Minister Shanmugam’s clarifications in parliament is clear that transgender folks who are transitioning will be treated humanely.

We also concur that individuals should be assessed on a case-by-case basis and greatly appreciate the effort into considering the nuances of the situation.

From our work with transgender folks who went through the system, there are still issues faced by transgender inmates. We have noted in one case, a trans woman who was assigned to a male prison alleged that she and other trans women in the cell have less recreational time like exercise, study or work.

While the assignment of prison cells based on their external genitalia is a step forward in the right direction, we feel that there should also be considerations for transgender inmates who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria or expressed gender variance, but are unable to transition medically or surgically. That can include providing gender care to inmates and assigned them to segregated cells in such cases.

We believe that these considerations will help expand to include gender-diverse individuals and improve their rehabilitation journey.

Founders of Transbefrienders featured on Zaobao

27 August, 2023

Zaobao New Article on TBF

Transgender people are often marginalised by society, and many of them are teenagers of developmental age. Without their parents' understanding, they will feel isolated and helpless. Transbefrienders, which specialises in supporting transgender youth, was interviewed about the attitude of parents and the importance of support. The two founders also proved through their own experiences that transgender people can also live a good life.

 

Written by Tan Ying Zhen, for Zaobao. Published on 27 Aug 2023.

Translated with Google Translate.

Read more at: 

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/lifestyle/familynlove/story20230827-1426972

Guest Trainer at Transbefrienders

March, 2023

As part of our ongoing commitment to the youths we support, we have engaged Senior Psychologist Dr Maha Y. See, PsyD, to upgrade the skills of our befrienders to improve the quality of our befriending service for transgender youths. Some of the topics covered includes trauma-informed care, "Common" mental health problems & LGBTQ+ affirming therapy.
 

Dr Maha has 30 years of experience in community services. He has worked with individuals and families from diverse cultural and international backgrounds across the lifespan in community mental health since 2006, starting in the San Francisco Bay Area. His clients belong primarily to vulnerable and marginalized populations. Maha’s approach to clinical care is emotionally focused and trauma-informed with attention paid to cultural context and intersectional issues. His organisational clients are primarily non-governmental and civil society organisations.

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