Posted on 2 November 2011 - in The Sun
Michelle Chun
PETALING JAYA (Nov 1, 2011): Annual sexuality rights
festival, Seksualiti Merdeka, is a platform for Malaysians of diverse
sexual orientations and gender identities to tell their stories and not
an effort to promote transsexuality, co-founder Pang Khee Teik said
today.
“We are not trying to promote homosexuality. This festival is the
chance for Malaysians to hear our side of the story, why after all these
years of trying to be somebody else, some of us have found peace with
ourselves and come to accept who we are,” he told theSun.
“We are aware that a lot of people in this country are unable to
accept the fact of homosexuality or transsexuality due to misconception
and ignorance, and this time we want to address it and talk about it.”
Pang was responding to Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali’s
statement on Oct 31 that the organisers had gone overboard in insisting
to go ahead with the festival, even though Islam is the official
religion and the majority of Malaysians are Muslim.
“All we want is a chance to speak up, give us that much rein and
accept that we have tried, we are not trying to make people unhappy, we
just want to be happy,” he said.
Seksualiti Merdeka 2011, themed ‘Queer Without Fear,’ is scheduled to
be held from Nov 1-13 at The Annexe Gallery, Kuala Lumpur. Datuk Ambiga
Sreenevasan will be officiating the festival launch on Nov 9 at 8pm.
26 comments:
I am a gay and i accept who i am, And I think Seksualiti Merdeka is dumb.
I don't need to tell the world who am I. You only make it worst. You will only create harm to homosexuals then bring good.
And don't say it is not because of promoting transgender. Please, your aim contradict with your words.
Yes.. Great...!!
Dear Anonymous,
Transgenders are people too. Some people are born with the heart and mind of a woman, in the body of a man. Gender is a very fluid thing. And I believe that homosexuals (people who are already marginalised) should not further marginalise others, e.g. our transgender brothers and sisters.
PS - by telling the world who we are, we make our existence known -- our existence as human beings who work, pay taxes and vote -- not human beings that live sleazy 'immoral' lifestyles. Malaysians have to know us for who we are, so that we can truly be free to be ourselves.
i agree with Anonymous who says Seksualiti Merdeka is dumb. Yes we're all human and with different feelings..but it doesn't mean we have to act on it. True, homos exist everywhere. It's fine living in the closet. Respect the country and Islam as the official religion. Don't like it, then please leave! You still have choices to make. - rose
I am not gay or lesbian, and I think this Seksualiti Merdeka is really dumb. Mary Kay, Malaysia is not a free and liberal country as western world. We got majority Muslim people which 100% reject anything other than straight sex. Yes, I am Muslim, and I also believe that other religion also prohibit gay and lesbian. Please, and please, don't make this country worse.
i dont subscribe to the idea of this programme... "merdeka" is not the rightful term..."merdeka" is free from any any intervention or influence from any external/foreign powers for example...but here..it clearly shown that the idea is fully contradicted to the idea of "merdeka". This programme still a copycat or total imitation from the West or what ever liberal ideas. Wake up...live in reality...normal human being do not subscribe to this idea..it just simply destroy human civilization. permitting this, is like you are killing your own nations and civilization. I do agree that some of us born with woman nature or others..but this should not be encouraged. Find something more important more imminent, like help the poor or abused or abandoned children. they too need such attention , a highlight like this one.
I believe all religion (Islam, Christian, Buddha, Hindu, Baha'i) do against these LBGT. for those people, i would like to ask: do you believe in God? if you believe, why you act against what ur God commands u? and have u ever think of God's angriness towards these group? thats why those LBGT will never achieve their peace in this life, their heart never felt enough. because it is a God's punishment. Great for those people bcoz would be a part of the hell's resident.
Yes, Islam is the official religion in the country, but there are so many people who have different faiths. Homosexuality is never considered a sin in Buddhism and Hinduism. Even in Christianity, the anti-gay parts of the bible is considered 'too outdated' for the present, modern civilisation. Did you know that the bible says it's a sin to wear polyester and eat prawns?
About 'destroying civilisation'. Please look at countries that have legalised gay marriages/unions - Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Canada. Are these countries' in a mess?
And now, look at countries that are against gays = African countries, Uganda, etc. Look at the quality of life there and compare with the gay-friendly ones.
The gay-friendly countries have amazing quality of life, they are peace-loving, successful, stable and just overall beautiful and modern - something Najib has always wanted. Compared to the majority of gay-hating countries... income gap too wide, poverty, diseases and horribly unstable politics with horrible democracy!!!
Even Turkey, a muslim country, is liberal and moderate when it comes to homosexuality. Everyone coexists wonderfully, peacefully.
I love Malaysia, but I see so many of my gay brothers and sisters living life with fear, because some people say "Islam prevents this, if you don't like it, go away". It's the same as some racist politicians saying "Tak suka, balik Cina!"
Gays and lesbians are some of the kindest and nicest people I know. And I just wish we have a spot here to live and coexist with you all - not saying we want the rights to kiss in public. Just need to know that we won't have to face utter discrimination when we tell you who we really are.
MK, Malaysia is worse enough with the current racism and corruptions, LGBT is not going to make it any worse. Whether u accept or not, LGBT is around us, you are homophobic and you might be sharing table with gays everyday without knowing it. Just because you want to shut them up doesn't mean that they do not exist. I know gay lecturers, region manager, scientist, doctor.. they are in the closet, but yes they are here and they are contributing to the development of the country. They are not asking for others to join them. You may be a muslim, but judge not others by your standard, there is no compulsion in religion, and so do not force your view unto others. Who knows the next doctor you are visiting is actually a gay.
Wearing polyester and eat prawns are different. Gender is another thing. If you prefer that kind of lifestyle, you have your choice. But not in this country.
Look at it this way all you Anonymous'es....
When the british came, and segregated us by race, chinese doing business, malay in governance, and indian in rubber plantations... there are chinese parties that came out loud, proclaiming their rights and stuff.
and there were ppl like you that says "why expose us? let us be at peace in our little dirty hole, as long as we're alive.". You people are so threatened by the society that you could settle for minimal justice, live with No Privacy or Rights!!
True it brings more spotlight to the LGBT. But are you a rat? are you scared of the light? Are you gonna stay in that dark hole forever?
But no, not everybody is willing to be bullied forever. We will not stand to be humiliated like this! whether or not you cowards are joining in the fight, we'll still be going ahead. if we win, u can share our benefit. if you still get beaten up, blame your cowardice.
Oh to those that say all major religion is against LGBTIQ... then i say this - we believe in "Human Rights".
According to your beloved Perkasa, it's a spanking new official religion!! And human rights is very supportive and inclusive of everybody, and aims to create a lovelier and peaceful world to everybody. Aman.
Dear Anonymous, who thinks LGBTs 'prefer this kind of lifestyle',
It's not a CHOICE! Do you think I would be so stupid to CHOOSE to be bullied, discriminated, insulted and be treated differently in school/EVERY CHINESE NEW YEAR because I don't have a girlfriend/not married at this age? I am not 'a rebel'. I am just 'myself'. Born this way. No social conditioning. It's just who I am.
There are hundreds of thousands of gays in Malaysia, many of them holding professional jobs and changing lives for the better. If you think that Malaysia 'does not welcome' us, and would prefer us to 'get out', then I think the country would certainly be a lot less wonderful...
@Ah Kit#
I strongly disagree with your points saying that you "didn't" have any choice to choose? Everyone in this world is free to make choices, okay. It is either bad or good choices that they might choose. In your case, I guess you are stupid because the choice that you have made is the BAD one. Because, I believe that homosexuality is nurtured. Therefore, if you at least try not to be who you are right now long before, you won't end up to be having this kind of lifestyle as YOU decide for yourself and it must always be a GOOD decision! Don't say that you didn't have any choice, okay.That's bullshit.
And, no, Malaysia won't have any so-called wonderful loss without LBGT because we are the normal ones. Not the other way around.
I AGREE ON WHAT MARY KAY SAID
special people like us live a tougher life than any of the people you guys would call yourself as normal. we will have to figure out how to tell our parents, how will the society accept us.
it is not a choice, this is who we are
just be nice to people life us, you will never imagine how our life is.. unless you're in our shoes
i use to feel so empty cause i am afraid to be close to people, afraid that they might not accept me.. TURNS OUT THAT, they accepted for who i am.
THIS COUNTRY CAN BE BETTER, IT ONLY COMES TO HOW YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
put yourself in our shoes
@Shakir Azfar:
Why did you choose to be straight?
Born that way is it?
It's the same for LGBTs...
This is the concept you need to learn, boy. It's within us... it's natural. Understand it. Don't hate, appreciate! :)
Dear Shakir Azfar,
So you think being gay is a choice? And by saying that, I assume you're saying those who 'choose' to be gay are straight in the first place?
Right.
So if you think that gays are straight but chose to be gay, I dare you to prove it. Prove that being gay is a choice! You have to be able to walk the talk, so why don't you, Shakir Azfar, prove that being gay is a choice by being gay yourself?
You don't have to be gay forever, just a few months. Or even weeks, if you don't think you can handle being gay for months.
Cultivate your desire for other men. I'm sure you can do this, as you're convinced that being gay is a choice/decision. You don't have to do anything to the other guys, just prove your point by proving to yourself that you can be attracted to them.
And once you've done it, once you realised that you can be attracted to the same sex, you can stop being gay and choose to be straight again. It's that simple. But if you can't do this, if you fail to be attracted to other men, then do spend some of your precious time to reflect on that experience.
And yes, what I dared to you to do is what Dan Savage proposed to Herman Cain.
if Malaysia keep on discriminating gays, they will suffer from brain drain ...
Hey, if you wanna be a gay, live somewhere else? Yes, you can live anywhere you want but not with that kind of lifestyle in Malaysia. And to Mary Kay, ' Some people are born with the heart and mind of a woman, in the body of a man. Gender is a very fluid thing.' oh, how do you know ey? did you make a research? u cannot talk without fact. If the parents are not gay, then gay cannot be passed down. it's more to choice. Science still cannot prove that gay is because of heredity and gay can't have kids so how can it be passed? lol. Oh, I am definitely not stupid. I get how the science works. it's a matter of choice. if you want to live in Malaysia, then follow the Islamic Country Rules. Otherwise, you can go to Europe and many more countries that accept it!
Dear Anonymous,
I have transgender and transexual friends, I've heard their stories. I've read articles about their plights. They are different from transvestites/cross dressers. They truly believe they are trapped in the wrong body. If you were a man, imagine having boobs and a woman's genital... you would be alarmed, you want to change. So you bind your breasts, etc. Transgenders REALLY feel that way.
Anonymous, have you ever spoken to a transexual? Or do you just look at them with scorn and disgust, like a lot of other narrow minded people who discriminate them, fire them from work, forcing them to sell their bodies just to make a living?
Please talk to one, or many. Hear them out. Hear us out! Please give us a chance.
Being gay is not a choice and its definitely not an option.If parents whose IQ is low can have an intelligent child, why cant't straight parents have a homosexual child? Have you unraveled all the mysteries in the world my dear straight people?
Guys, look, we are all creation of Allah. Allah dislikes man potraying a woman and vice versa. If you are born 'emotionally gay' (I stress the word 'born') people around you should know who you are and treat you as just another human being, not to make fun of. Perform your prayers and be close to Allah. There's no need to flaunt, show-off, or advertise your 'gay'ness. This is how Islam handles the situation (as Islam is fair to all). There is really no need with all this LBGT rights, seksualiti malaysia, whatever. Whether you admit to it or not, such activities (ie. Seksualiti Merdeka) will make people dislike gays (as seen in the thread here & newspapers). As a last note, don't forget the history of Sodom & Gomorrah (google it, if you don't know). Wouldn't want the same thing to happen in Malaysia...
I am single, and I do sometimes get insulted and discriminated at the office/during celebrations because I am not married and don't have a boyfriend; those cases are not exclusive to homosexuals.
I don't think you can have your sexual preferences accepted by everybody, but nor do I think the LGBTs are being discriminated against in this country. Accept the fact that by being LGBTs, you do go against the norms. There will be some people who would dislike your sexuality, just like you disliking some of other people's traits and beliefs. You might want to stop defining yourselves ONLY by your sexuality, too.
Be gay all u like..
Be happy of who u are..
Why the need to get so advertised with it??
Why the need to impose it on the society to endorse your choice??
i believe every religion advocate "thou shall not kill". by eating chicken , beef, fish, etc, aren't we all complicit in fuelling the industry to kill and to satisfy our own desire? and pls don't say it is different because it isn't. killing is killing. period. hypocrisy rear its ugly head in times like these.
PS. ummu, how would acknowledging LGBT people destroy civilization? pls support your statement.
Assalamualaikum,
I strongly condemn what Shakir Azfar has mentioned/commented.
My DEAR Friend Shakir,
Please differentiate "SEXUALITY" and "SEX".
Sexuality is an identity, it is an orientation.
Sex, on the other hand, is the action of penetrating your penis into anus/vagina. It is an action, NOT an orientation.
(which explains why some STRAIGHT men enjoys penetrating their penis into their wife's/girlfriend's anus, for example... It is simply an action, NOT an orientation).
ALLAH condemns the act of same-gender SEX, not the SEXUALITY of an individual. Please, please, please learn to differentiate these two terms and their connotations.
Seksualiti Merdeka is only trying to expose the mass Malaysians on the concept of sexual variations. Sexual variations is also acknowledged in the Quran, (you can reply me back if you want proof on which Surah etc). The event is NOT all about promoting same-gender sex.
As Muslims, we are taught to respect everyone. There is a room for everyone in this world, believe me.
Be kind to your LGBT friends, as their SEXUALITY is not an issue. However, what sort of SEX (the "action part" of the sexuality) they do in their bedroom, that is between them and Allah.
Yes, we remind and advise, but we don't judge. And certainly, we don't condemn. More than anything else; we help, tolerate, love and learn to co-exist.
Assalam.
Regards,
Aminuddin, a non-gay Muslim aged 34 years old. Happily married with 3 sons, Alhamdulillah.
Post a Comment