Residents also get to undergo empowerment as well as Love and Grow programmes, the topics centring on suicide awareness, self-esteem, depression, and more. While there is a high suicide rate amongst transgender people, and while they may be susceptible to depression, June notes an important nuance: “For depressed transgender individuals, their gender identities are not the cause of their depression. They have already chosen to live their lives as their authentic selves, and they are happy. They are depressed because of the challenges that come after their transitions — they are discriminated; they cannot find a job, and hence have no financial stability.”

These programmes are supported by advocacy groups such as AWARE, and rather surprisingly, religious groups. Because their scriptures dictate that gender is binary, many religious followers may interpret sex-change operations as mutilation, a sin. It is an uphill challenge reaching out to religious groups, but it is one that June relishes, for she wants to open their hearts and minds. “You can approach us with the notion that we are living in sin. But The T Project’s residents are not just ‘transgenders’; they are people, your friends. You’re not speaking with a ‘transgender’; you’re speaking with a human being. When you see just our gender identities, you see only limitations. When you come and help people who are marginalised, when you come and show love for your fellow Buddhist, Christian, Hindu or Muslim, it speaks volumes about the person you are. It is true God’s work.”