A new report from Transmen Indonesia, the country’s first organisation led by and for trans men, is breaking important ground by sharing the real-life experiences of trans men across Indonesia. Too often left out of national conversations, policies, and data, trans men have remained largely invisible. This report is the most detailed look yet at the challenges they face, and the strength they show in response.
There is almost no publicly available data about the lives and rights of trans men in Indonesia. This lack of visibility has serious consequences, not just for the community themselves, but for those working to improve laws, healthcare, education, and services for LGBTQI people. Research like this helps expose barriers and is essential for driving real change.
To help close this gap, GiveOut’s grant partner Transmen Indonesia has published a powerful new report: “Demanding Justice: A Situation Report on the Fulfilment of Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights of Trans Men in Indonesia.”
The report is based on the stories of 75 trans men from 12 provinces, collected through a research process led by the community itself. It looks at whether trans men can access basic rights like ID cards, healthcare, education, jobs, housing, and social services.
Some key findings:
- While 98.7% of participants held national ID cards (KTP), many experienced deadnaming, misgendering, or denial of services, as their documents often did not reflect their gender identity.
- Only a third had accessed reproductive healthcare, and more than half of those reported discrimination or exclusion from services.
- Over 75% experienced job discrimination, which meant most were stuck in informal, low-paid work without job security.
- More than 40% lived in poverty, with one in five living in extreme poverty under World Bank benchmarks.
- Over half of participants experienced restrictions on gender expression in school, including enforced dress codes and pressure to conform to assigned gender roles.
Even in the face of these challenges, the report also shares stories of strength and community support. Participants described the importance of peer networks, trans-led groups, and inclusive service providers in helping them navigate difficult systems and build safe spaces where they could be themselves.
This is the first report in Indonesia to focus entirely on trans men’s experiences, and to do so through research designed and led by trans men themselves. It not only collects data, it gives voice to a community that’s often ignored, and shows why their stories must be part of conversations about rights and justice.
The findings will be used to push for better laws and services, including legal gender recognition, anti-discrimination protections, and better training for people working in health, education, and government. It also helps allies, funders, and organisations better understand and support trans men, while highlighting the urgent need to include trans men in national and international human rights efforts.
At its heart, this report is a roadmap for change, a call to make sure that laws, policies, and everyday services truly reflect the dignity, needs, and voices of trans men in Indonesia.
Follow Transmen Indonesia on Instagram here.