Stand up against hatred and threats against LGBT — JAG

Joint Action Group For Gender Equality (JAG) is greatly concerned with recent announcement in Star (Dec 29) that the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) intends to take action against Azwan Ismail for posting a video on YouTube entitled “I'm Gay, I'm OK” as part of a video campaign launched in response to accounts of suicides and attempted suicides by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) teenagers and adults.

We are appalled that government authorities have not condemned the threats of murder and violence against Azwan Ismail and other members of Seksualiti Merdeka who were involved in the campaign, but instead have fanned violence and hatred with homophobic and discriminatory statements.

Women have never been strangers to discrimination. That is why women's groups seek to uphold Article 8 of the Malaysian federal constitution that clearly guarantees that, “All persons are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection of the law.”

JAG stands by Seksualiti Merdeka's attempt to reach out to Malaysians who face overwhelming feelings of loneliness, fear or hopelessness resulting from the stigma and discrimination against them for being LGBT. They should not be persecuted for trying to address a human issue with understanding and compassion.

JAG is deeply concerned with the culture of hatred and intolerance bred in Malaysian society today against those who are different, be it on the basis of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. This demonisation of the “other” goes against the true inclusive and tolerant spirit of being Malaysian.

As Louise Arbour, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has stated:

“Neither the existence of national laws, nor the prevalence of custom can ever justify the abuse, attacks, torture and indeed killings that gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender persons are subjected to, because of who they are or are perceived to be.

“Because of the stigma attached to issues surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity, violence against LGBT persons is frequently unreported, undocumented and goes ultimately unreported and unpunished. Rarely does it provoke public debate and outrage. This shameful silence is the ultimate rejection of the fundamental principle of universality of rights.”

Azwan Ismail is not the first gay Muslim man in Malaysia nor will he be the last. Being gay is not a crime, however, hate speech as per Sections 211 and 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and making threats to commit acts of violence as stated in Section 503 of the Penal Code are crimes under Malaysian laws.

We urge Malaysians to stand up to such hatred and violence and reach out to all those who are discriminated against in peace and compassion.

Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) comprises Women's Aid Organisation (WAO), Sisters in Islam (SIS), All Women's Action Society (Awam), Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower) and Perak Women for Women Society.

Taking down Azwan Ismail's video for his safety

Seksualiti Merdeka telah memutuskan untuk menurunkan video Azwan Ismail "Saya gay, Saya OK". Kami membuat ini demi keselamatannya kerana nwayanya telah diancam oleh pelbagai komen dan blog, dan pihak berkuasa keagamaan juga telah dilaporkan hendak mengambil tindakan ke atasnya. Kami kesal bahawa setakat ini tidak ada pihak berkuasa yang telah mengecam ancaman keganasan. Seksualiti Merdeka akan terus berjuang untuk hak-hak LGBT, iaitu minoriti yang terpinggir, disalahfahami dan mudah diancam di Malaysia. Jika anda perlu hubungi kami, anda boleh emel seksualiti.merdeka@gmail.com atau lawat laman web kami: www.seksualitimerdeka.org. Mungkin tidak semua orang memahami sekarang. Tapi ada juga yang faham. Terima kasih.

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Seksualiti Merdeka has decided to take down Azwan Ismail's video "Saya gay, saya okay". We are doing this for his safety as his life has been threatened by various comments and blogs, while the religious authorities have also been reported as saying they plan to charge him. We regret that so far nobody in authority has denounced the threats of violence. Seksualiti Merdeka will keep standing for the rights of the marginalised, misunderstood and vulnerable community of LGBTs in Malaysia. If you need to contact us, you may email seksualiti.merdeka@gmail.com or check our website: www.seksualitimerdeka.org. Maybe not everyone understands now. But there are those who do. Thank you.

So what? Banyak lagi masalah sosial di Malaysia...

A few more blogs and articles supporting (or at least, not condemning) Azwan Ismail and Seksualiti Merdeka.

Ada juga dua blog dalam Bahasa Melayu:

The Gossip Lounge: Ted's Issue - Who is Azwan Ismail?
"So what? Banyak lagi masalah sosial di Malaysia yang perlu dibendung berbanding nak kecoh dan mengamuk tentang hal homoseksual ini."

Mueh Mueh!: Kebenaran Versus Moral : Siapa Pemenangnya?
"ku sebenarnya admire keberanian si Azwan ni.  Bukan mudah menjadi seorang Gay dekat Malaysia ni. Sekarang ni pun, mamat ni dah dapat banyak ugutan bunuh disebabkan pengakuan jujur dia berkenaan orientasi seksual dia. TAPI Bila politikus tipu dia orang bulat-bulat/petak-petak kat depan muka dia orang, dia orang relaks jek. Padahal penipuan si politikus tu berkali ganda besar. Bukan dekat Youtube jek, dekat media massa lagi."

And a few more in English:

Sybreon Ones Nought: Azwan Ismail
"Now, what shocks and stuns me is the response from various officials, as quoted by TheStar. I am not sure if this is a result of more creative editing and sensationalism but I am appalled at the type of responses. They have all basically responded by deriding Azwan and calling for more monitoring of gay groups and gay activities. Not a single one of them urged for calm and restraint. Come on. There are individuals out there who are calling for his blood and the official response only calls for more monitoring and enforcement against those who are being threatened, and not those who are doing the threatening. In a moral and civil society, it is those who threaten the lives of others, who should be monitored."

Writing by Amir: Why is the 98% scared of the 2%? 

Like the Syiah of Malaysia, there are probably only 2% of people in this world who are homosexual. And yet there are various organisations squealing like stuck pigs (to use a non-halal simile) at this "threat to the nation". Further hypocrisy ensues when the "moral panic" is spread only via Muslim religious bodies. If it's really so threatening, shouldn't gays of any religion (or no religion) also be targeted?And what threat are we talking about here, exactly? The threat that all Malay boys will stop listening to rock bands and listen only to Ziana and Siti instead? (Yes. Stereotype. I know).

The Relative Awakening: So many questions, so little time
"Whatever Azwan Ismail is doing, it's between him and Allah. Who are you to say that you're a better person than him? Iyerp, same-sex relationship is berdosa besar but so is having sex outside of marriage and using God's name in vain. I really hate it when people do that. And stop quoting al-Quran verses if you don't understand what it truly says. Berdosa okay. Reading my friends' homophobic comments and reactions about that video makes me want to support Azwan Ismail, just to piss them off. I don't know, everything they say and write about this issue is making me uncomfortable. God help me from religious bigots."

Associated Content: Homosexuality and religion - How they could get along
"To me, however, there is no reason for the religions of the world to criticize homosexuals, or to push governments to declare it illegal. My reasoning is very simple: those who are gay do not harm their fellow man. The idea that they somehow erode the traditional definition of marriage is daft: allowing gay people to marry will not reduce the marriage rate among heterosexual couples. If a man and woman want to marry, they will marry, even though their next door neighbour is gay and is going to marry a man."

ComaBlackWhite: Azwan Ismail Gay Malay Coming Out of Malay Closet
"We've been living in sin already. We were already liberal and secular for quite some time already without a large portion of the society noticing it. Not to mention, capitalist too. This Azwan Ismail is just one of the gay bunch and he happened to be the perfect victim for religious wannabes and homophobic Malays."

Thank you to those who remain calm, rational and compassionate in these times.

Death threats: A Malaysian culture?

More news report of officials rushing to suggest what should be done to Azwan Ismail and Seksualiti Merdeka. Yet none of them has spoken out AGAINST the death threats and threats of violence.

Utusan Malaysia: Sekat kumpulan seks songsang

Harian Metro: Kecaman moderator

Just do a search for Azwan Ismail and you will likely stumble upon a few blogs that list the ways to kill homosexuals; one even claim that if authorities don't act, Muslims are not to be blamed if they take actions into their own hands. Really? Is this the Malaysian way?

Are we legitimising death threats? Is that not a perversion of justice? A person who harmed no one by saying he is gay is being persecuted, while those who want to physically harm others get away with it? Who is really breaking up and destroying society? Those who promote acceptance or those who promote rejection, hate and violence?

Once again, we want to appeal for understanding and compassion.

The Incident Room: It Gets Better

For direct streaming of the BFM programme:



With Pang Khee Teik from Seksualiti Merdeka, human rights lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar and documentary film maker Norhayati Kaprawi

Shanon Shah's Letters to Editors

Shanon Shah's letter to Berita Harian

Ke hadapan pengarang yang dihormati,

Saya merujuk kepada laporan anda berjudul “JAKIM pantau seks songsang” bertarikh 19 Disember 2010. Merujuk kepada pengakuan peribadi seorang lelaki Melayu Islam, Azwan Ismail, bahawa dia seorang gay, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom mengarahkan Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) memantau kegiatan kumpulan “pengamal seks songsang”.

Sebagai seorang Muslim, saya rasa keprihatinan Jamil perlu dipuji, kerana beliau jelas menitikberatkan keharmonian dan keselamatan rakyat Malaysia, terutamanya yang beragama Islam. Namun, saya amat bimbang tentang keselamatan saudara Azwan, yang kini mengalami pelbagai ugutan dan cercaan di laman siber.  Sama ada kita setuju atau tidak dengan pilihan peribadinya, biarlah kita berdebat dengannya dengan cara yang beradab dan berbudi bahasa. Tiada siapa yang berhak untuk memantau, mengherdik atau mengugutnya. Dalam hal ini khususnya, hanya Allah yang berhak untuk mengadili Azwan, bukan insan lain yang tidak sunyi daripada melakukan dosa. 

Saya amat berharap bahawa pihak berkuasa akan menjamin keselamatan dan kesejahteraan Azwan sebagai warganegara Malaysia yang dilindungi oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Dan saya juga berharap bahawa alim ulama di Malaysia akan melindungi nyawa dan maruah Azwan sebagai seorang Muslim, dan tidak akan membiarkan sesiapa pun untuk mengugut atau berlaku ganas terhadapnya. Islam menuntut supaya kita sentiasa beradab dan berdakwah dengan penuh hikmah, walaupun dengan musuh kita. Apa lagi dengan warganegara dan saudara seiman kita?

Shanon Shah

London

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Shanon Shah's letter to New Straits Times

Dear editor,

I refer to your report, “Being gay is against Islam”, from 19 December 2010, regarding the public declaration of a Malay-Muslim Malaysian man on YouTube that he is gay and comfortable with his sexual identity. You quoted the de facto minister of religious affairs, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, as saying, “For Muslims, we must remember that being gay is against our religious teaching.”

The fact is, there is and always has been a large body of scholarship within Islam on matters related to sexual diversity, and the picture is not as black-and-white as Jamil asserts. Certainly, condemnations of same-sex relations form a large body of Islamic jurisprudence and Quranic exegesis, but there have also been disagreements among Islamic scholars regarding this matter. Contemporary ulama and scholars such as imam Feisal Abdul Rauf (of Masjid Al-Farah, New York) and the Indonesian imam Hussein Muhammad assert that prominent commentaries even from Islam’s classical era have acknowledged and tolerated sexual and gender diversity.

Additionally, historical and anthropological studies (for example Murray and Roscoe’s “Islamic Homosexualities”) have surfaced evidence of non-heterosexual relationships existing within Muslim societies across historical and geographical boundaries.

These facts beg two further questions, however. The first question is, why then do the representatives of Islam in Malaysia insist that the debate on homosexuality is black and white and necessary entails condemnation and violent punishment?

Secondly, for both those who defend “Islamic” condemnation of homosexuality and the pro-gay spokespersons condemning “Islam” for this, why single out Islam as though it were a “special” case?

Homophobia (and racism, and misogyny, and other kinds of discrimination) have been used by those in power to interpret the foundational texts of many of the world’s major religions. Islam’s Abrahamic predecessors, Judaism and Christianity, have also struggled with periods of great intolerance towards women, non-heterosexuals and non-believers.

Nevertheless, there are more nuanced debates happening now within these traditions. Liberal and reform Jews no longer believe women are inferior or that gays and lesbians are condemned by God. Similarly, several leaders from the global Anglican church are now making efforts to be more inclusive and less judgmental towards women, gays, lesbians, ethnic minorities, non-Christians and so on. The fact is that this movement also exists within Islam, but it very often gets stifled by state laws in Muslim-majority countries, which have ironically inherited anti-gay content from former colonial powers.

The American Muslim scholar Siraj Al-Haqq points towards a very prominent hadith (tradition of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) recorded in Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 41, No 5106, which says:

“Narrated Anas ibn Malik:

A man was with the Prophet (peace be upon him) and a man passed by him and said: Apostle of Allah! I love this man. The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) then asked: Have you informed him? He replied: No. He said: Inform him. He then went to him and said: I love you for Allah's sake. He replied: May He for Whose sake you love me love you!”

The hadith is ambiguous about whether or not this is about platonic, spiritual or romantic love. It is, however, very specifically about love between two unrelated men. Between the ambiguity and specificity of this hadith, then, lies a great unexplored space for further debate and understanding. Those who want to shut down this space do a great disservice not only to Islam and the great world religions, but also to humanity, because they deny us valuable opportunities to reach out and understand each other.

Shanon Shah

Malaysian Journalist/playwright/musician

London

Azwan Ismail in Blogs and Articles: Why are the supporting ones all in English?

With four simple words, Azwan Ismail's "Saya Gay, Saya Okay" has inspired a tsunami of words -- combining all the news, blogs, articles and the epic comment sections they spawned -- that would take you days to read, if they don't drown you first. It's easy to see why some people think this could translate into a real tsunami.

Below is a roll of the more positive blogs and online news commentary regarding Azwan Ismail's video and "It Gets Better in Malaysia". But let's start off first with the two sites were responsible for driving the initial bulk of Malaysian viewers:

Beautiful Nara: (VIDEO)Pengakuan Berani Mati Azwan Ismail, Saya Gay
Terkesima. Terkelu. Terjelir. Tersentap. Dan semua “ter” lagi yang keluar apabila melihat video pengakuan gay Azwan Ismail ini. Korang tengoklah sendiri dan buatlah kesimpulan sendiri. Semoga Azwan Ismail menjadi seorang “gay yang lebih tabah”.

OhBulan: (Video) Jurutera & Penulis Azwan Ismail Mengaku Gay, Berani Bodoh!
Azwan Ismail, 32 merupakan seorang jurutera, penyair & menulis telah dipilih sebagai salah seorang peserta kempen ‘Seksualiti Merdeka’ yang mendapat sokongan daripada pergerakan It’s Get Better Project. Kami 100%, membantah sikap liberal & berani Azwan Ismail yang secara terang melanggar norma manusia, dan agama.


We are aware there are many many blogs that are negative (and mostly written in Malay) about this. But we don't see the need to promote hate speech. You can find them if you google Azwan Ismail's name.

Below are some blogs  in support of Azwan Ismail:

Blog Serius: Serius - Saya Gay Saya Ok!

Korang mungkin tak setuju dengan aku tapi aku seorang liberal. I believe that gay people should be given the same RIGHTS and RESPECT accorded to straight people. I have A LOT of gay friends and acquaintances. Despite their sexual preference they are good people. At the end of the day they are just like you and me. Why must one sexual preference be used against him or her? Adakah dengan kehomosexualan mereka hidup anda terganggu? Mana lebih bahaya? Homosexuality atau perasaan benci tanpa sebab keatas orang yang homoseksual?

Ps. The above is the only one of the supporting blog entries we found that has some Malay in it!

Writing by Amir: Who is Azwan Ismail and why are some people saying terrible things about him? 
We are a society that thrives of innuendo and nudge-wink insinuations. Most people are aware of local gay celebrities who 'cover line', sometimes to the extent of having lavish weddings. How long would these sham unions last, and how much unhappiness would they cause? Those questions somehow recede into irrelevance; what's important is that the values of the community have been upheld. By 'values', I don't mean marriage but hypocrisy. There's a perverse pleasure to be had in making people lie about themselves. What Azwan did, and he seems quite unprecedented in this, was to choose to tell the truth.

Writing by Amir: How Amin Sweeney explained our obsession with the sex lives of others
"Di negeri waras dan matang, tidak akan ada obsesi yang sakit parah dengan seks. Tapi dalam suasana represif yang penuh kemunafikan, tentu saja terdapat reaksi penuh gairah ala alhamdulillah—masyaallah—alhamdulillah—masyaallah. Tutup mata sambil mengagumi lewat celah jari.'

Obefiend: Lies And Honesty in Malaysia
We are fed so much lies that when someone is honest about themselves, we jumped on them like they raped your mom, your sisters, your girlfriend and your cats. Honesty is not the best policy when you are in Malaysia. Don't believe me? Just ask the fellow below. He was honest about his sexuality and what did he get in return?

Shanon Shah: Not Okay to be gay?
Whether you agree with Azwan or not, it is clear that his is a calm, thoughtful and heartfelt message. It is non-threatening and non-confrontational. Not so the comments that follow it. Unfortunately, I have to say that this sort of vitriol does not surprise me anymore, especially if it is from individuals who claim to be speaking in defence of Islam.

WhimsicalWednesday: Out Rage
So, Azwan's gay; so what? I have news for you, people: he's not the only one gay Malay in the world, and — gasp! — he's certainly not the first, nor will he be the last. He himself has admitted that it took a long time to accept himself for what he is — does that mean he should be bereft of humane treatment? He was not calling for everyone to suddenly forget the opposite sex and start orgies in the streets; all Azwan was saying was the same thing that literally thousands of people the world over — that it's OK for you to be YOU.

The Stray World: Azwan Ismail is Gay. And He is (Probably Not Going to be) Okay.
The deep-seated hatred to be found in the reli­gious texts of Islam towards gays, les­bi­ans, bisexu­als, and trans­sexu­als means auto­mated hate speech from a ter­ribly depress­ing amount of people — as evid­enced from the video com­ments, and pub­lic fig­ures in power.

Three commentaries from The Malaysian Insider columnists:

Zeffri Yusof: I Reason, I'm Okay
It should be obvious that “coming out” isn’t merely a personal choice that the rest of society “has to accept or respect.” Every person that “comes out” carries with him or her a pretty big stick that beats upon the certainty and firmament of the carefully conditioned worldviews out there, much of it based on religion and culture.

Zan Azlee: I’m not gay, and I’m okay
I felt that I didn’t have to worry about that ambiguous issue in the religion (I just had to worry about all the other sins I do!). As far as I am concerned, I’m not gay and I’m okay.

Lim Ka Ea: It must get better
I find this campaign very human. It’s not just about promoting or glorifying the rights of lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgendered persons. It’s about treating and respecting them as human beings who don’t deserve to be bullied and certainly don’t deserve to suffer in silence.

And one from Malaysiakini:

Josh Hong: So, where is the love?
What worries me most, in fact, is the staggering lack of support from other politicians and religious leaders for Azwan. They may disagree with Azwan's decision to come out, but surely issuing death threats is not the way to promote dialogue and understanding. So why are they predominantly silent?

And finally, BFM Radio (89.9) talked to Malik Imtiaz, Norhayati Kaprawi & Pang Khee Teik. Download the podcast here:

BFM: The Incident Room: It Gets Better 
To discuss this kerfuffle we spoke to Pang Khee Teik from Sexuality Merdeka, human rights lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar and documentary film maker Norhayati Kaprawi.


If you have written a blog or a column in support of Azwan or It Gets Better in Malaysia, please let us know: seksualiti.merdeka@gmail.com.

But more importantly why are all the blogs and articles so far mainly in English? Do we have an inability to defend and frame arguments for human rights principles and rational morality in the Malay language? It will be great if some of the supporting ones are written in Malay too!

Azwan Ismail & "It Gets Better in Malaysia" in the News

Azwan Ismail and "It Gets Better In Malaysia" in the news:

Berita Harian: JAKIM Pantau Seks Songsang

Harian Metro: Berani Mengaku Gay

New Straits Time: Being Gay Is Against Islam

The Star: Authorities Unhappy With Gay Confession

Malaysiakini: Root out gay culture, says PAS Youth

Associated Press: AP Interview: Malaysia gay man gets threats
The interview by AP has been picked up by over 200 international press, including: Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CBS News, Seattle Times, MSNBC.com, Today Online, Asian Correspondent, LA Times, Manila Bulletin, Straits Times (Singapore), ABC News, San Francisco Gate, The Daily Chili, Sudan Times, Stuff.co.nz, Boston Globe, WorldNews.com, Malaysia Chronicle

The Star: Gay man fears for his life after exposing his sexuality on Net

Fridae.com: It Gets Better in Malaysia project calls for greater understanding of LGBT issues after death threats

Fridae.com: It Gets Better in Malaysia: Pang "What's so wrong with love?"

The Sun: Engineer unfazed by anti-gay criticisms, death threats

FreeMalaysiaToday: 'Okay to be gay' video courts death threats 

FreeMalaysiaToday: Penyokong gay dan kerajaan dikecam di alam siber

VivaNews.com: Mengaku gay, lelaki Malaysia diancam dibunuh

Aibai.com: 公开性倾向视频吸引十四万点击，马来西亚一同性恋者受到死亡威胁

MerdekaReview.com: 抨击暴力恐吓性少数社群维权组织促缔造宽容社会

MerdekaReview.com: 本国性少数人士网上出柜十五人集体倡言接纳自我

MerdekaReview.com: Seksualiti Merdeka: Ugutan Terhadap Pemberi Harapan


If you know of any other news reports not listed here, please let us know: seksualiti.merdeka@gmail.com

It Gets Better in Malaysia: Pang "What's So Wrong With Love?"

Receiving Death Threats for Giving Hope

STATEMENT FROM SEKSUALITI MERDEKA
(Versi Bahasa Melayu di bawah kenyataan Bahasa Inggeris)

RECEIVING DEATH THREATS FOR GIVING HOPE
Wed 22 Dec, 2010

What Is “It Gets Better In Malaysia”?
It Gets Better in Malaysia is a video project about giving hope to young LGBT Malaysians: even though things can be rough during the teenage years, it can get better. This message is targeted at the minority of young Malaysians who are growing up as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT).

This project is in response to accounts of suicides and attempted suicides by LGBT teenagers and adults. Statistics of such suicides are anywhere between three to six times higher than by heterosexuals. This is due to the overwhelming feelings of loneliness, fear or hopelessness that result from the stigma and discrimination against them. Most people have their families to turn to. For LGBT youths, even their own families can be a source of rejection. They have no one to turn to. We decided it is up to us who have survived similar situations to reach out to young LGBTs. This is why the project was born. It’s not about making coming out videos. It is about giving hope to youths at risk.

Seksualiti Merdeka, the organiser of an annual human rights festival on sexuality, especially the human rights of LGBT, took on this empowering project in belief of the message’s importance and relevance to Malaysia.  The festival is organised by a coalition of groups and inviduals including the Bar Council Malaysia, SUARAM,  Empower, PT Foundation, United Nations, Amnesty International, KRYSS, Purple Lab, Matahari Books, among others.

DEATH THREATS AGAINST HOPE GIVERS
To date, our video project has seen 15 contributions, four of which are online. The first is by singer Peter Ong on 9 Dec 2010, followed by engineer-writer Azwan Ismail on 15 Dec, university student Kavidha on 17 Dec, and Pastor Joe Pang on 20 Dec.

Within five days, Azwan Ismail’s video – It Gets Better in Malaysia: Azwan Ismail “Saya gay, saya okay” – reached over 150,000 views and 3,400 comments, many of which are against him: commentators have urged him to repent and return to the right path (heterosexuality). However, most of these comments are vicious, rude and uncalled for, and some have even threatened violence and murder towards Azwan and Seksualiti Merdeka members.

We find it irresponsible of the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom to ask JAKIM to monitor the activities of gay groups, while failing to ask JAKIM to criminalise those who post abusive and vulgar comments which threaten Malaysian citizens with violence and death.

The honorable minister’s primary concern is the image of Islam being tarnished. However, we feel that Islam’s image can also be tarnished by those who speak with hate and intolerance, completely without a trace of humanity.

We never intended to tarnish the image of Islam. We simply wanted to give hope.

We hope our leaders will not ignore threats of physical violence. Besides preventing meaningful discourse and debate, these threats also further intimidate fellow Malaysians who are already fearful for their well-being.

AVENUES TO EXPRESS OURSELVES
We believe in respectful exchange of perspectives in Malaysia if we are truly a nation that celebrates diversity, dynamism, and creativity. If LGBT Malaysians are given avenues to express ourselves, we are certain the public will be more understanding and realise we are not a threat to society.

We advocate the importance of self-awareness and self-acceptance for our emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being. This promotes awareness and acceptance of others, and responsibility to ourselves and to others.

Sexual orientation and gender identity are identity issues. LGBTs do seek and fall in love just as heterosexuals do. There are already so many gay Malaysians working in all sectors of society from engineers to lawyers to CEOs.

Homosexuality is not a foreign concept, writer Amir Muhammad says in support of Azwan’s video. “Some people,” he explains, “aren't appalled by the fact of Azwan Ismail's sexuality. What they are affronted by is that he's a person who's giving his own name, and being completely honest about what he wants to say.”

The intolerant and vicious comments prove that Malaysia is a hostile environment preventing any LGBTs from leading honest, open and meaningful lives. This vicious cycle of shame and intimidation needs to be broken once and for all. The pressure in having to pretend to be something we are not and the loneliness and fear that comes with it often results in a misery that may push some to the verge of suicide.

And that is why, more than ever, we need messages of hope such as that by Azwan Ismail:

“I am confident that things will be better. We have to gather our strengths from around us because there people who can help us and give us the confidence to be ourselves, to face our future...”

We need each other – not just other LGBTs, but all Malaysians. Please stop targeting and marginalising LGBT Malaysians. Give us a chance to tell our stories of hope.

RECOMMENDATIONS
We believe Malaysian leaders, the media and the public should:

1.    Ensure the non-discrimination of all Malaysians based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

2.    Condemn threats of violence and murder in the name of any religion

3.    Establish non-judgemental, constructive and positive spaces and enable opportunities for LGBTs in Malaysia to express themselves and to promote better understanding on issues based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

4.    Assure protection to participants of the “It Gets Better in Malaysia” project for helping to spread hope to our LGBT youths

Seksualiti Merdeka
www.seksualitimerdeka.org
seksualitimerdeka@gmail.com

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KENYATAAN DARI SEKSUALITI MERDEKA
MENERIMA UGUTAN BUNUH BILA MEMBERI HARAPAN

Rabu 22hb Dec, 2010

APAKAH "IT GETS BETTER IN MALAYSIA?"
It Gets Better in Malaysia adalah projek video yang merakamkan mesej harapan untuk golongan muda LGBT Malaysia: walaupun situasi mungkin amat sukar di zaman remaja, namun keadaan akan menjadi lebih baik -- ‘It gets better’.  Mesej-mesej ini adalah untuk sebahagian kecil remaja Malaysia yang lesbian, gay, biseksual, transeksual (LGBT).

Projek ini adalah tindak balas kepada kisah-kisah benar mengenai remaja dan dewasa LGBT yang bunuh diri atau cuba bunuh diri. Statistik menunjukkan bahawa frekuensi dan kemungkinan berlakunya kes bunuh diri remaja LGBT adalah antara tiga hingga enam kali lebih tinggi berbanding golongan heteroseksual. Ini adalah akibat perasaan kesepian, ketakutan, atau putus asa yang disebab oleh stigma dan diskriminasi terhadap mereka.  Kebanyakan orang boleh mengadu kepada keluarga, tapi ramai remaja LGBT dipulau oleh keluarga mereka sendiri. Mereka tidak boleh mengadu kepada sesiapa. Kami memutuskan untuk memberi semangat kepada mereka kerana kami dapat mendalami perasaan yang sama. Inilah sebabnya projek ini dimulakan. Ia bukan projek membuat video 'pengakuan gay'. Sebaliknya ia untuk memberi harapan kepada orang muda yang mungkin tiada harapan untuk hidup.

Seksualiti Merdeka, penganjur acara tahunan hak asasi manusia mengenai seksualiti, terutamanya hak asasi golongan LGBT,  memperjuangkan projek ini berlandaskan kepentingannya untuk Malaysia. Penganjur pesta ini terdiri daripada gabungan beberapa kumpulan-kumpulan dan individu-individu, termasuk Bar Council Malaysia, SUARAM, Empower, PT Foundation, United Nations, Amnesty International, KRYSS, Purple Lab, Matahari Books, dan lain-lain.

UGUTAN MEMBUNUH PEMBERI HARAPAN
Setakat ini, projek video ini telah menerima 15 sumbangan, empat diantaranya yang telah disiarkan di Internet. Video pertama adalah dari penanyi Peter Ong pada 9 Disember 2010, diikuti oleh jurutera-penulis Azwan Ismail pada 15 Disember, seorang mahasiswi Kavidha pada 17 Disember, dan seorang paderi Joe Pang pada 20 Disember.

Dalam tempoh 5 hari, video Azwan Ismail yang bertajuk – It Gets Better in Malaysia: Azwan Ismail “Saya gay, saya okay” – mendapat lebih daripada 150,000 hits dan 3,400 komen, kebanyakan yang menentang beliau. Ramai komentator menggesanya untuk bertaubat dan kembali ke pangkal jalan (heteroseksual). Namun begitu, kebanyakan komen bersifat kejam, kasar, dan biadab, termasuklah ancaman keselamatan beliau serta ugutan bunuh.

Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom bertindak secara tidak bertanggungjawab sebab beliau meminta JAKIM untuk memantau kegiatan kumpulan homoseksual tanpa meminta JAKIM untuk memantau mereka yang memberi komen yang kasar dan kesat, serta mengancam keselamatan dan nyawa rakyat negara Malaysia.

Tampaknya bahawa prioriti menteri terhormat adalah risiko menjejaskan imej agama Islam. Tetapi pada pandangan kami, imej Islam juga boleh dircalar oleh penganut-penganut yang bersuara tanpa toleransi dan penuh kebencian, serta langsung tiada sifat perikemanusiaan.

Kami tidak berniat untuk menjejaskan imej Islam. Kami hanya ingin memberi harapan.

Kami berharap para pemimpin kita tidak akan mengabaikan ancaman keganasan fizikal. Perlakuan sedemikian tidak bermanfaat kepada sesiapa dan menghalang diskusi yang bermakna sambil mengugut golongan rakyat Malaysia yang sudahpun tersisih dan hidup dalam ketakutan.

RUANG UNTUK BERSUARA
Kami percaya yang rakyat Malaysia mampu meraikan kepelbagaian, dinamisme dan kreativiti dan juga saling bertukar pelbagai perspektif dengan  hormat. Jika golongan LGBT di Malaysia diberi ruang untuk bersuara, kami yakin orang ramai saling memahami dan sedar kami bukan ancaman kepada masyarakat.

Kami ingin mengutarakan pentingnya kesejahteraan emosi, psikologi dan kerohanian diri dengan menekan aspek kesedaran diri dan penerimaan diri sendiri bagi setiap insan. Sifat ini memupuk kesedaran dan penerimaan akan orang lain, serta memupuk sifat bertanggungjawab diri sendiri setiap insan kepada diri sendiri dan juga orang lain.

Orientasi seksual dan jatidiri gender adalah isu identiti. Golongan LGBT mencari dan jatuh cinta seperti golongan heteroseksual.  Adalah kenyataan yang ramai rakyat Malaysia homoseksual yang berada di khalayak ramai dalam semua lapisan masyarakat, dari jurutera ke peguam ke CEOs.

Homoseksualiti bukan suatu konsep asing, kata penulis Amir Muhammad yang memberi sokongan kepada video Azwan dalam blognya. "Beberapa orang," dia menjelaskan, "tidak terkejut oleh kenyataan seksualiti Azwan Ismail. Apa yang buat mereka rasa terhina adalah bahawa dia memberi namanya yang sebenar, dan benar-benar jujur tentang apa yang ingin dikatakannya. "

Komen-komen yang kejam dan tidak berperikemanusiaan membuktikan bahawa Malaysia adalah tempat yang amat menekan bagi golongan LGBT yang ingin hidup secara jujur, terbuka dan bermakna.  Lingkaran rasa malu dan ugutan ini harus dihentikan. Paksaan untuk berpura-pura sebagai heteroseksual akan mengakibatkan tekanan yang bertambah dengan kesepian dan ketakutan. Kesengsaraan ini boleh mendorong sesiapa sahaja untuk mengakhirkan nyawa sendiri.

Sebab itu,  mesej yang memberi harapan seperti yang dilafazkan Azwan Ismail diperlukan lebih-lebih lagi:  “Saya yakin keadaan akan menjadi lebih baik. Kita cuma perlu mencari sumber-sumber kekuatan di sekeliling kita kerana terdapat mereka yang dapat membantu kita dan akhirnya dapat memberikan keyakinan kepada diri kita untuk menempuhi hari-hari yang akan datang…”

Kami saling memerlukan di antara satu sama lain – bukan hanya LGBT, tetapi semua rakyat Malaysia. Tolong hentikan menyisihan dan pengniayaan rakyat LGBT Malaysia. Berilah kami peluang untuk berkongsi harapan.

KAMI MENGESYORKAN
Kami mengesyorkan para pemimpin, media dan masyarakat Malaysia supaya:
1. Menjamin semua rakyat Malaysia tidak menghadapi diskriminasi atas dasar identiti jantina dan orientasi seksual
2. Menolak sekeras-kerasnya ancaman keganasan dan ugutan nyawa atas nama agama
3. Mengadakan ruang-ruang yang tidak menghakimi, yang membina dan positif, dan memberi peluang untuk golongan LGBT di Malaysia untuk mengekspresikan diri mereka dan untuk mempromosikan pemahaman yang lebih baik tentang isu-isu berdasarkan orientasi seksual dan jatidiri gender.
4. Menjamin keselamatan peserta “It Gets Better in Malaysia” supaya mesej harapan kepada remaja dapat disebarkan kepada mereka yang putus asa

Seksualiti Merdeka
www.seksualitimerdeka.org
seksualitimerdeka@gmail.com

Coverage in the news:

Berita Harian: JAKIM Pantau Seks Songsang

Harian Metro: Berani Mengaku Gay

New Straits Time: Being Gay Is Against Islam

The Star: Authorities Unhappy With Gay Confession

Malaysiakini: Root out gay culture, says PAS Youth

Associated Press: AP Interview: Malaysia gay man gets threats
The interview by AP has been picked up by over 200 international press, including: Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CBS News, Seattle Times, MSNBC.com, Today Online, Asian Correspondent, LA Times, Manila Bulletin, Straits Times (Singapore), ABC News, San Francisco Gate, The Daily Chili, Sudan Times, Stuff.co.nz, Boston Globe, WorldNews.com, Malaysia Chronicle

The Star: Gay man fears for his life after exposing his sexuality on Net

Fridae.com: It Gets Better in Malaysia project calls for greater understanding of LGBT issues after death threats

Fridae.com : It Gets Better in Malaysia: Pang "What's so wrong with love?"

The Sun: Engineer unfazed by anti-gay criticisms, death threats

FreeMalaysiaToday: 'Okay to be gay' video courts death threats 

FreeMalaysiaToday : Penyokong gay dan kerajaan dikecam di alam siber

VivaNews.com: Mengaku gay, lelaki Malaysia diancam dibunuh

Aibai.com: 公开性倾向视频吸引十四万点击，马来西亚一同性恋者受到死亡威胁

MerdekaReview.com: 抨击暴力恐吓性少数社群维权组织促缔造宽容社会

MerdekaReview.com: 本国性少数人士网上出柜十五人集体倡言接纳自我
MerdekaReview.com: Seksualiti Merdeka: Ugutan Terhadap Pemberi Harapan

It Gets Better in Malaysia: Joe Pang "Live The True Love Within"

It Gets Better in Malaysia: Kavidha "We believe in love & equality for all."

It Gets Better in Malaysia: Azwan Ismail "Saya Gay, Saya OK"

Seksualiti Merdeka telah memutuskan untuk menurunkan video Azwan Ismail "Saya gay, Saya OK". Kami membuat ini demi keselamatannya kerana nwayanya telah diancam oleh pelbagai komen dan blog, dan pihak berkuasa keagamaan juga telah dilaporkan hendak mengambil tindakan ke atasnya. Kami kesal bahawa setakat ini tidak ada pihak berkuasa yang telah mengecam ancaman keganasan. Seksualiti Merdeka akan terus berjuang untuk hak-hak LGBT, iaitu minoriti yang terpinggir, disalahfahami dan mudah diancam di Malaysia. Jika anda perlu hubungi kami, anda boleh emel seksualiti.merdeka@gmail.com atau lawat laman web kami: www.seksualitimerdeka.org. Mungkin tidak semua orang memahami sekarang. Tapi ada juga yang faham. Terima kasih.

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Seksualiti Merdeka has decided to take down Azwan Ismail's video "Saya gay, saya okay". We are doing this for his safety as his life has been threatened by various comments and blogs, while the religious authorities have also been reported as saying they plan to charge him. We regret that so far nobody in authority has denounced the threats of violence. Seksualiti Merdeka will keep standing for the rights of the marginalised, misunderstood and vulnerable community of LGBTs in Malaysia. If you need to contact us, you may email seksualiti.merdeka@gmail.com or check our website: www.seksualitimerdeka.org. Maybe not everyone understands now. But there are those who do. Thank you.

It Gets Better in Malaysia: Peter Ong

IT GETS BETTER IN MALAYSIA

Sat 11 Dec, 6pm
The Annexe Gallery
2nd Floor, Central Market Annexe,
(Behind Central Market), Kuala Lumpur.

Admission Free!

Seksualiti Merdeka launches short videos featuring Malaysians telling young lesbians, gays, bisexuals and trangenders around the country not to despair: yes, it gets better. And it is possible to live honest, proud, fulfilling lives in Malaysia in spite of the situation.

NO ONE TO TURN TO
When confronted with bullying, rejection or discrimination at school, most of us have our families to turn to. But for LGBT youths, even our families can be a source of rejection. With no one to turn to, and faced with the thought of living a life full of fear, hurt and hopelessness, it is natural we ask ourselves, what is the point of living?

Over the last few months, we have heard of a many cases of teenagers in USA committing suicide as a result of being bullied at school for being gay. Who knows how many more goes unreported there, or here?

In response to the tragedies, American writer Dan Savage initiated a video project called "It Gets Better" in which LGBT (and some straight) adults, including many celebrities, record themselves telling the stories of how they survived their rough teenage years, and offering hope to young LGBT youths:
http://www.itgetsbetter.org/

MESSAGE OF HOPE
Inspired by Gabrielle Yong, the first Malaysian to post her "It Gets Better" video, Seksualiti Merdeka brings together 15 Malaysians from all walks and orientations and genders to share this message of hope. They are: Alvin Ng, Azwan Ismail, Gary Ooi, Joe Pang, Kavidha Natarajan, Michelle Nor Ismat, Nabila Nasir, Nisha, Pang Khee Teik, Peter Ong, Seetha, Sharaad Kuttan, Sulastri & Tina Fazlita Fadzil.

This event will premiere the videos before we upload them on youtube under Seksualiti Merdeka's channel one by one, as well as on this blogspot. Come join us and celebrate. If you feel inspired to do the same, please go ahead and find a friend with a camera to record your message, and share it with us. Let's spread the hope.

Helping the Mak Nyah Community Fight Against Violence & Persecution

Campaign Launch & Fundraising Concert
Sat 11 Dec | 8.30pm
Admission RM15 donation

JUSTICE FOR SISTERS is a grassroots campaign organised by concerned members of the public to raise public awareness about issues surrounding violence and persecution against the Mak Nyah community in Malaysia. The campaign also aims to raise funds amounting to RM50,000 to finance court cases that have been brought up against transsexuals who have been charged in syariah court.

The Justice For Sisters campaign will be launched with a special concert at The Annexe Gallery on Saturday 11 December at 8.30pm. Admission to the concert is RM15 donation. All proceeds will be channeled to the Justice For Sisters fund. You can also contribute more if you wish.

If you can't make it to the concert but would like to donate to the fund or help in other ways, please contact Angela [ angela@kryss.org ] or Thilaga [ thilaga.sulathireh@gmail.com ].


Performers include a varied lineup of some of KL’s best-loved musicians and poets in support of the cause.

Featuring:
Azmyl Yunor
Ayandha Number
Elvira Arul
George Wielgus
Ida Lisa Zahran
Janet Lee
Jasmine Low
Jerome Kugan
Liyana Fizi
Peter Ong
Shieko
Tshiung Han See
with Nell Ng as emcee

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[The following press statement was first made public on Tuesday 30th November during a press conference at the ARROW office by the Mak Nyah community, specifically the Mak Nyah community of Negeri Sembilan. It’s included here to provide some background information about the current situation faced by the Mak Nyah community in Malaysia.]

STOP THE VIOLENCE AND PERSECUTION TOWARDS US
Press Statement by the Mak Nyah Community of Malaysia
Contact: Thilaga Sulathireh
Date: 30 November 2010           

We are the Mak Nyah community and we are being persecuted by Section 66 on “Lelaki berlagak seperti perempuan” of the Syariah Criminal Enactment (Negeri Sembilan) 1992 (please refer to this section and similar sections in other states in Malaysia in Appendix 1). We have suffered mental distress, physical violence and even sexual molestation at the hands of the religious officers who enforce these laws. We are stripped of a life of dignity and deprived of our personal liberty, and we fear for our lives. We are unable to step out of our homes without the fear of getting harassed, abused or arrested. We are no longer able to go out or to eat and drink in public without the fear of harassment and abuse from the religious officers who enforce these laws. We demand that the religious authorities of the State of Negeri Sembilan and all its officers stop harassing, victimising and persecuting us for who we are.

In Negeri Sembilan where we live, we are forced to walk around without our brassieres as it is used as evidence against us upon arrest. We are “advised” by the religious officers to just wear t-shirts, track bottoms or men’s shorts. Despite following these instructions, we are still arrested on the basis that we physically look like women. We are sexually molested or our breasts are groped when the religious officers who enforce these laws insist on checking if we are wearing brassieres. We are sometimes made to change our clothes in full view of the religious officers.

We are instructed to plead “Guilty” by the religious officers and even by the state’s Legal Aid Bureau. Without proper legal advice, we plead “guilty” and as a result we are sentenced with heavy fines and sometimes we even face imprisonment. Under such laws, it is impossible for us to live and earn a living. Sometimes, we are also compelled to attend mandatory religious counseling sessions. We are Mak Nyahs. No amount of “counseling” or coercion can ever change that. All we ask is to be left alone and for respect of our personal and private lives. Such mandatory counseling we consider to be an infringement of our personal liberty.

We also suffer hardships in obtaining employment as we are discriminated against by employers on the basis of who we are. We suffer rejection in schools and in some institutions of higher learning. At the latter, we are sometimes required to attend boot camps in order to make us more “manly”.

As Mak Nyahs, we have the right to live with dignity like all citizens in Malaysia. We have the right to our identity, the right to self-expression in our dress and mannerisms, the right to respect for our personal and private life and the right to livelihood as other citizens in Malaysia. These are our fundamental liberties as enshrined in Articles 5, 8 and 10 of the Federal Constitution, the supreme law of the land. Any law that violates our rights arbitrarily is no longer good law.

These are also violations of our human rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Jogjakarta Principles on human rights relating to sexual orientation and gender identity.

We ask the Legislative assemblypersons of Negeri Sembilan, the Negeri Sembilan Religious Department Directors and all other Malaysian elected representatives and leaders to stop the violence and persecution that has been targeted against our Mak Nyah community.

We appeal to all who believe in freedom under the Federal Constitution, human rights, non-discrimination and equality, to stand with us and join us in our call for the stop of the targeted persecution and violence towards our Mak Nyah community in Malaysia.

Appendix 1

Syariah Criminal Offences Enactment of other states in Malaysia which have been used to persecute the Mak Nyah community

ENAKMEN 4 TAHUN 1992
ENAKMEN JENAYAH SYARIAH NEGERI SEMBILAN 1992
BAHAGIAN IV - KESALAHAN
Darihal kesalahan mengenai kehormatan diri
Seksyen 66. Lelaki berlagak seperti perempuan.
Mana-mana orang lelaki yang memakai pakaian perempuan atau berlagak seperti perempuan di mana-mana tempat awam adalah melakukan satu kesalahan dan hendaklah apabila disabitkan dikenakan hukuman denda tidak melebihi satu ribu ringgit atau penjara selama tempoh tidak melebihi enam bulan atau kedua-duanya.

ENAKMEN 9 TAHUN 1988
ENAKMEN KANUN JENAYAH SYARIAH 1988 (NEGERI KEDAH)
BAHAGIAN II - KESALAHAN-KESALAHAN
Seksyen 7. Pondan.
Mana-mana orang lelaki yang memakai pakaian perempuan dan berlagak seperti perempuan di mana-mana tempat awam adalah bersalah atas suatu kesalahan dan boleh, apabila disabitkan, dikenakan hukuman denda tidak melebihi satu ribu ringgit atau penjara selama tempoh tidak melebihi enam bulan atau kedua-duanya.

ENAKMEN 2 TAHUN 1985
ENAKMEN KANUN JENAYAH SYARIAH 1985 (NEGERI KELANTAN)
BAHAGIAN II - KESALAHAN-KESALAHAN
Seksyen 7. Pondan.
Seseorang lelaki yang memakai pakaian perempuan dan berlagak seperti perempuan di mana-mana tempat awam adalah bersalah atas suatu kesalahan dan boleh, apabila disabitkan, dikenakan hukuman denda tidak melebihi satu ribu ringgit atau penjara selama tempoh tidak melebihi enam bulan atau kedua-duanya.

ENAKMEN 6 TAHUN 1991
ENAKMEN KESALAHAN SYARIAH (NEGERI MELAKA) 1991
BAHAGIAN IV - KESALAHAN-KESALAHAN LAIN
Seksyen 72. Lelaki berlagak seperti perempuan.
Seseorang lelaki yang memakai pakaian perempuan dan berlagak seperti perempuan di mana-mana tempat awam tanpa alasan yang munasabah adalah merupakan suatu kesalahan dan apabila disabitkan kesalahan boleh dikenakan hukuman denda tidak melebihi satu ribu ringgit atau dipenjara selama tempoh tidak melebihi enam bulan atau kedua-duanya sekali.

ENAKMEN 4 TAHUN 1993
ENAKMEN JENAYAH DALAM SYARAK 1991 (NEGERI PERLIS)
BAHAGIAN II - KESALAHAN-KESALAHAN
Seksyen 7. Pondan.
(1) Mana-mana orang lelaki yang berlagak seperti perempuan (tasyabbuh) di mana-mana tempat awam adalah bersalah atas suatu kesalahan dan boleh, apabila disabitkan, dikenakan hukuman denda tidak melebihi lima ribu ringgit atau penjara selama tempoh tidak melebihi tiga tahun atau kedua-duanya.

ENAKMEN 3 TAHUN 1995
ENAKMEN KESALAHAN JENAYAH SYARIAH 1995 (NEGERI SABAH)
BAHAGIAN IV - KESALAHAN
Seksyen 92. Lelaki berlagak seperti perempuan atau sebaliknya.
Seseorang lelaki yang memakai pakaian perempuan atau berlagak seperti perempuan atau sebaliknya di mana-mana tempat awam adalah bersalah atas suatu kesalahan dan boleh, apabila disabitkan dikenakan hukuman denda tidak melebihi satu ribu ringgit atau penjara selama tempoh tidak melebihi enam bulan atau kedua-duanya sekali.

A place to call home

Article in The Star
by Ong Jo-Lene

A first-timer at Seksualiti Merdeka shares her experience as a volunteer and her journey towards becoming a Rainbow Warrior.

I REMEMBER cracking a joke last year about Adam Lambert being "too faggy" to deserve to win American Idol. Last month, however, in the very same week the reality TV contest runner-up came to perform in Kuala Lumpur, I found myself at another concert called Rainbow Massacre: We Are Family!, applauding a seven-foot tall drag queen named Shelah.

The Amazonian goddess brought the house down when she quipped, "I know you all want to see Adam Lambert, but there is only one pondan here tonight ..."

Visitors awaiting the next event lined up for Seksualiti Merdeka. On the left is one of the two installations of the SM Art Project, Portraits of the Unspoken.

Jokes and words are only hurtful and insensitive when we use them with discriminatory and abusive intent. And yes, the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community has reclaimed the words "pondan" and "queer" so we can now use them without fear of being slapped by a rainbow.

Shelah's message of acceptance and sexual diversity was that we are all winners anyway, no matter what others think. So how did a borderline bigot end up as a volunteer at Seksualiti Merdeka, the country's only sexuality rights festival (held at The Annexe Gallery, KL, from Oct 13-17)?

I responded to the call for volunteers for an art project through its Facebook page because it seemed like fun. I admit that while I've always believed in equality and non-discrimination, I wasn't always sensitised to the rights and feelings of this community.

I was quite ignorant about LGBTs and sexuality rights. It was only after spending many weeks with my sisters and brothers – workshopping, talking and listening as we planned the art project – that I got an understanding of the struggles of their struggles. I now realise we are all human beings, born with different strokes but the same inalienable rights.

I began my journey as a Rainbow Warrior when I was greeted with open arms at Seksualiti Merdeka. All it took on my part were open ears, mind, and heart.
Dr Farish Noor's lecture on the history of modesty in Southeast Asia was followed by a "fashion show" of original Peranakan corsets.

Into its third year, this project plays an important role in promoting understanding and acceptance of our diversity by society. It advocates our right to be responsible for our own bodies, and that it is our responsibility to safeguard our rights.

If you are hyperventilating at the thought that I was joining a celebration of sex, let me stop you here: the project is not called "seks merdeka". It's Seksualiti Merdeka, meaning independence of sexuality.

Sexuality emcompasses more than sexual acts. Gay, straight or in between, everyone is entitled to sexuality rights, which are not always recognised by society and the law. We should be able to responsibly exercise and express our own sexuality with freedom from stigma, discrimination, violence, persecution, and abuse.

Sexuality rights involve international human rights law being applied in areas relating to sexual orientation and gender identity, as outlined under the Yogyakarta Principles (yogyakartaprinciples.org).

Seksualiti Merdeka's success in promoting these rights can be seen from the support it receives from bodies such as the United Nations, Amnesty International, PT Foundation, Suaram, Empower and the Bar Council Malaysia.

Presenters for Even Educated Fleas Do It fielding questions from the floor: (from left) Angela Kuga Thas, Thilaga Sulathireh, Amir Muhammad, Julian C.H. Lee, Andrew Ng and Yeoh Seng Guan.

Unfortunately, many in Malaysia still do not think of sexuality rights and LGBT rights as human rights. As pointed out by Dr Azrul Mohd Khalib, the UN HIV and AIDS Coordinator, in his speech at this year's launch, "Very often, the champions of human rights in Malaysia are silent or perceived to be less enthusiastic when it comes to the rights of such marginalised communities."

I often read comments about how the LGBT community cannot simply claim the right to lead a lifestyle that is against the order of nature. If you had attended the series of presentations called "Even Educated Fleas Do It: Sex, Sexuality and Diversity in Malaysia" (on the last day of the festival), you would know that nature abounds with examples of same-sex behaviour and even sex changes, all naturally occurring in nature.

Furthermore, when it comes to those complex creatures known as human beings, what is "natural" to you may not be so to others. As organising chair and co-founder Pang Khee Teik has said, "the personal nature of any individual should not be mistaken for the collective nature of society".

The festival's activities bridge communities by broaching "hot button" topics through accessible, interactive and entertaining mediums such as movies (Queer As Films: Focus On Our Family was screened) and interactive forum theatre (Family Outing), which presented a coming-out scenario to university students, many of whom were able to offer interesting and candid suggestions on ways a gay son could come out to his mother.

The project I took part in, called Portraits of the Unspoken, showed the five participants with their statements, as well as a second installation that allowed the public to share their sentiments.
The fabulous Shelah – portrayed by Edwin Sumun – shared the message of acceptance and sexual diversity

Farish Noor's lecture entitled From Modesty Plates to Peranakan Lingerie: A Short History of Modesty in South-East Asia gave me a historical perspective of how our "values" are socially constructed and have evolved over time.

I also got an education on basic concepts in sexuality from sexuality rights activist and feminist Angela Kuga Thas. Learning about basic concepts helped me make sense of all the jargon – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, transvestite, drag-queen, butch, femme, etc.

As I learnt more about our diversity, I realised that we are not that different underneath it all – no matter what we are naturally inclined to like, who we see ourselves as, and how we choose to express our identity. We all want independence and equality.

This really hit home when gender studies researcher and activist Thilaga Sulathireh presented actual case studies of fellow Malaysians who were persecuted and punished for expressing and embracing their sexuality – the core of their very being.

The event ended with a bang with Rainbow Massacre, which featured performers such as Tony Eusoff singing Get Up, Stand Up, Nikki Palikat singing Defying Gravity, and Aaron Khaled singing a Susan Boyle cover, Proud: "Please don't shoot me down, though you can't see it now, someday I'll make you proud."

 The fabulous Shelah – portrayed by Edwin Sumun – shared the message of acceptance and sexual diversity

It is truly amazing that these beautiful people have taught me family values and inspired me to be a better person, even if they had themselves been treated with utter inconsideration by many others to their human dignity, suffered harassment in public places, been accused of breaking up families and not having "good moral values" – all because they proudly embrace their true selves.

To me, supporting Seksualiti Merdeka simply means believing that we should be able to embrace our true selves, even if the gender we identify with does not match the sex organs we are born with, that we should be able to love who we want to love so long as it's between consensual adults, and that we should all be able to freely and responsibly express our sexuality.

At Seksualiti Merdeka, I found another place to call home: no one to call me a "freak" because all of us here have at some point or another been labelled a "freak", and hey, we are all a little freaky inside anyway, and it's okay.

I hope to see you at next year's event. All you need to bring is an open mind and a little bit of heart.

Ong Jo-Lene is working on the ‘Stop Motion Project', which aims to end violence against women. The project, supported by Empower, will be launched next February. The freelance writer spends her free time being mind-controlled by Lord Bobo on loyarburok.com.

Article published on Sunday, November 14, 2010, in The Star. It could be found online at http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2010/11/14/lifefocus/7374868&sec=lifefocus

A homophobic Malaysia

Column in Malaysiakini
by Josh Hong

Perhaps I did not articulate it clearly enough. Or were some readers simply bent on interpreting things in the way that suited them?

The question that I posed at the very end of my last article was fairly simple: Would Penny Wong have made much headway in her political career had she remained in Malaysia? Fat chance, I would think.

Instead of getting a straightforward answer, I was told to prove Wong’s homosexuality. In this day and age when much information can come at one’s fingertips, why are many too lazy to google but wait to be spoon-fed?

This was what Wong (pix) said during a Q&A session last July, widely reported in Australian broadsheets:

“When I entered the parliament, I did actually think very carefully about how to handle being Asian and gay and in the parliament, because it hadn’t been done before… I thought it was very important to show that you should never be ashamed of who you are.”

Wong ought to be rewarded with accolades for her honesty, and there should not be a negative stigma of any kind attached to the Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, and Transgender (LGBT) communities worldwide.
I am not in the least interested in one’s private life. In fact, had she not contradicted her past position on same-sex marriage, I would not have bothered with her political advancement in the first place.

In 2006, the Labor senator made it clear that she looked to a day when the Australian public would judge relationships by respect, commitment, love and security, rather than the gender of one’s partner. Criticising Prime Minister John Howard for his refusal to recognise same-sex union at the time, she believed the day would only come under a Labor government.

In view of her long-held conviction on the issue, Wong’s sudden volte-face could not help generating the cynicism that it was an attempt on her part to win favour with Julia Gillard in order to keep her job as a cabinet minister.

But my real intention, really, was to gauge the opinion of the Malaysian public on a politician who decided to “come out”. Judging from the majority of the comments so far, things are not looking good indeed.

As gay as anywhere else

Opinion piece in The Malaysian Insider
by Colin Boyd Shafer

AUG 3 — Life for a gay person in Malaysia can’t be easy. After all, this “choice” of lifestyle is a crime. An act that is considered homosexual is punishable by a caning and a 20-year sentence.  Muslims face additional penalties under Syariah law.

Organisations like the People’s Voluntary Anti-Homosexual Movement (PASRAH) have dedicated their efforts to eradicate homosexuality by supporting severe penalties and closing down gay gathering places.  Nevertheless, the country has a vibrant gay community that refuses to be intimidated.

Why do so many Malaysians continue this pointless crusade against homosexuality?  In a nation that wants to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with developed countries, it chooses to marginalise a double-digit segment of its people.

Yes — it is generally accepted that 10 per cent of any given human population is homosexual.  This statistic helps to explain why gay marriage is legal in many countries such as Argentina, Norway, Belgium, Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Portugal, South Africa and, my homeland, Canada.


Although issues over gay rights divide Americans, outright discrimination is widely recognised as wrong.  Even France has a gay ad for McDonalds. However, some Malaysians continue to choose to be more like Uganda and its laughable anti-gay activists. However, there is hope.