Transgender activist Khartini Slamah is open to learning about Islam, and even seeking guidance from religious authorities.

The award-winning Sarawak native said, however, the problem often lies with clerics who insist that transgender people should be "converted" back to their "true selves" before they can start to learn more about the religion.

"To me, it doesn't mean just because you are a transgender you cannot learn about religion (Islam), you can. I want to learn it...