The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) today urged the media to practice "balanced, fair and ethical standards" of reporting on issues concerning 'effeminate men' and 'masculine women'.

"This is because slanted media reports could lead to further persecution of an already vulnerable group," said rights commissioner Prof Mohd Hamdan Adnan.

Hamdan's advice followed the protest by a group of concerned citizens against the recent spate of media reports purportedly attacking "effeminate men, masculine women, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals".

Led by Shanon Shah, who addressed the protest letter to Suhakam chairman Abu Talib Othman, the group spoke on what they called the 'demonisation' of such marginalised and minority groups.