Project Mosaic
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Project Mosaic: Assessing the Needs of Transgender, Gender-Diverse, Ethnic and Religious Minorities and Individuals with Disabilities in Singapore’s LGBTIQA+ Community

Introduction

After months of dedicated work, we are thrilled to present this report, which seeks to address the longstanding gap in data and visibility on the lived experiences of LGBTIQA+ individuals in Singapore, particularly those whose identities intersect with other marginalised groups. It offers a closer look at their experiences of safety, dignity, and equity in everyday life. It also considers how these experiences may be shaped by factors such as gender identity, race, religion, and disability.

Through an online survey and focus group discussions (FGDs), we highlight the systemic shortcomings and amplify the voices and needs of LGBTIQA+ individuals who are most affected. These findings serve as a starting point – they are an invitation to reimagine systems and practices and a call for future collaborative research centred on the most marginalised within the queer community.

It is our hope that this report not only informs but also inspires meaningful reflection, dialogue, and action toward greater inclusion. As you read on, we invite you to consider how these insights might shape your work, your community, and the future we build together.

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Intersecting Identities

Grounded in Kimberlé Crenshaw's concept of intersectionality, this study explores the lived realities of LGBTIQA+ individuals in Singapore whose identities intersect across gender, race, religion, and disability. Rather than presenting a singular narrative, it amplifies the diverse and often overlooked voices that demonstrate the complexity of marginalised queer experiences in Singapore.

Read on for a breakdown of the demographics of the study's survey and FGD participants, as well as their effects on several aspects of life.

  • Age groups of survey participants

  • Gender of survey participants

  • Gender of focus group participants

  • Sexual orientation of survey participants

  • Ethnicity of survey participants

  • Religion of survey participants

  • Disability status of survey participants

Healthcare Services

LGBTIQA+ individuals with intersecting marginalisations voiced serious concerns over the inaccessibility of Singapore’s healthcare system—pinpointing financial constraints, regulatory hurdles to gender-affirming care, provider bias, and lack of inclusive practices as key systemic barriers. Drawing on international research and overseas policy interventions, the participants identified ways to improve both access to and the quality of healthcare.

Illustration of medical equipment including clipboard, stethoscope, and syringe, representing healthcare and medical experiences
80.6%

of survey participants accessed healthcare services

Key findings

Key recommendations

Mental Health Services and Wellbeing

Participants explained that mainstream initiatives often fall short in addressing the complex, deeply rooted challenges faced by LGBTIQA+ individuals with intersecting identities. Unique stressors highlighted by the community include social rejection, systemic erasure, and heightened exposure to discrimination (even within therapeutic spaces). As a starting point, they advocated for holistic, trauma-informed, and queer-affirming mental healthcare to bridge some of these gaps.

Illustration of a colourful brain with three stylised, vibrant flowers growing from it, symbolising mental wellbeing
64.5%

of survey participants accessed mental health services in the past year

93

survey respondents experienced key mental health challenges

Key mental health challenges

Key findings

Key recommendations

Employment Support and Workplaces

Several participants report how the workplace is often unsafe, marked by stifling gendered expectations, fears of disclosure, harassment, poor employee protections, and job insecurity due to accountability failures and precarity. They called for the development of anti-discrimination safeguards and supportive structures to improve their feelings of safety and well-being.

Illustration of a hand holding the handle of a brown briefcase with a yellow buckle
16.1%

of survey participants sought employment support in the past year

Key findings

Key recommendations

Housing Services and Support

Safe, stable, and affirming housing remains out of reach for many LGBTIQA+ individuals in Singapore. Those with intersecting marginalisations faced compounded challenges due to discriminatory policies, housing instability due to family estrangement, rental stigma, and the lack of inclusive housing pathways. Participants called for a review of current public housing rules and the development of diverse housing models that fit their lived realities.

Illustration of a house key with a heart-adorned keychain, symbolising home, safety, and belonging
14.0%

of survey participants accessed housing services in the past year

Key findings

Key recommendations

Educational Services and Experiences

LGBTIQA+ students in Singapore’s conservative education system often face identity erasure, bullying, and exclusion. Transgender and non-binary participants in particular reported peer bullying as well as institutional silence and active punishment as major sources of emotional distress and alienation. Our participants called for a fundamental change in our school culture to one that embraces inclusivity and affirmation.

Illustration of academic symbols including graduation cap, diploma, and textbooks, representing education and knowledge
22.5%

of survey participants experienced stigma at educational institutions

Key findings

Key recommendations

Religious Spaces and Experiences

Queer people of faith still face significant stigma and disconnection from both religious communities and LGBTIQA+ spaces, which aggravate their feelings of isolation and internal conflict. Many still seek affirming environments that embrace both their spiritual and queer identities while helping them to heal from past religious trauma.

Illustration of praying hands, representing faith and spirituality
10.7%

of survey participants experienced stigma in religious spaces

Key findings

Key recommendations

Community Support

Living at the intersection of multiple marginalised identities often means being an afterthought in community events and organising. Our participants expressed dissatisfaction with the inaccessibility and occasional unsafety of current events, and shared valuable recommendations to foster greater inclusion.

Illustration of jigsaw puzzle pieces connecting together, symbolising community, intersectionality, and diverse identities coming together

Do you think there are adequate community spaces or events in Singapore?

Key findings

Key recommendations

Acknowledgments

The RainbowAsia team expresses its deepest gratitude to Kaleidoscope Trust, whose belief in this project and its mission enabled us to carry out this work. Established in 2011, Kaleidoscope Trust is a UK-based international charity fighting for a future where LGBTI+ people everywhere can live free, safe and equal lives.

We are deeply grateful to all the LGBTIQA+ community members who dedicated their valuable time by participating in the survey and focus group discussions. We would like to thank our volunteer facilitators, transcribers, and data analysts, whose labour, insights, and commitment ensured the quality and depth of this research. Thanks to our community partners and organisational collaborators for helping us to reach a diverse range of participants, and to Proud Spaces for offering space and support for our focus group sessions and for their ongoing partnership.

We would also like to thank the members of the RainbowAsia team who were involved in project coordination, data analysis, writing, and review: Raag Sudha (she/they), Caitlin C. Fernandez (they/them), Joshua Ng (he/him), Emily Sng (she/her), Bonnie Siew (they/them), Kingston Chee (he/him), and Elliott Sim Weizhi (he/him).

Project Mosaic is dedicated to all those working towards a more just, inclusive, and affirming Singapore for LGBTIQA+ individuals of all identities and experiences.