Police Nix "Sexual Independence" LGBT Arts Festival In Kuala Lumpur

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Police ordered gay rights activists in Muslim-majority Malaysia on Thursday to scrap an annual arts festival aimed at fighting discrimination.

The "Sexual Independence" festival has been held under low-key circumstances in Kuala Lumpur since 2008, but growing awareness about the event has lead to criticism by politicians and religious leaders.

This year's five-day festival – starting Nov. 9 at a private arts center and themed "Queer Without Fear" – featured planned musical performances of "queer anthems sung by fierce local singers and drag divas who know what it means to love out loud and proud," organizers said.

But after criticism by the deputy prime minister and plans by several Muslim nongovernment groups to protest, police ordered the event to be canceled.

Authorities will "prevent any function relating to the program," deputy police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said in a statement run by national Bernama news agency and confirmed by police representatives.

Many organizations "feared the program could create disharmony, enmity and disturb public order," Khalid said.

Earlier Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had described the event as "inappropriate" and a "waste of time," according to Bernama.

Gay rights activists did not immediately respond. Earlier, they had said the festival was meant to counter widespread homophobia in this socially conservative Asian nation, where a young gay man received death threats last year after posting a YouTube clip defending his sexuality.

"Asking us to keep quiet is asking us to take your abuse with a smile ... it's time to put a stop to all the hate and misunderstanding and abuse," festival spokesman Pang Khee Teik said in an online statement posted Thursday before the event was banned.

This year's program also included plans for talks on sexuality issues, a poster exhibition and a makeup workshop by a drag queen. One session is titled "Defense Against The Dark Arts: Homophobia 101."

Media censorship rules forbid movies and song lyrics that promote acceptance of gays, while a decades-old law makes sodomy punishable by 20 years in prison, though it is seldom and selectively enforced.

The festival's sponsors and supporters included the Malaysian chapter of Amnesty International, the country's main grouping of lawyers and other human rights organizations.

Comments

[Satircon]

05:17 AM on 11/06/2011

I'm absolutely outraged, about this homosexual fad that has swept our world. First it was Europe. Then it was Canada. Then it crept into OUR great country. And now it's threatening life as we know it on this planet.

Don't homosexuals know that the koala is an endangered species. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for huntin' and fishin', but ever since I was a little boy and was left at my weirdo liberal aunt's house and saw that episode of Wild Kingdom, I've loved that little guy.

When I found out he wasn't a bear at all, but a marsupial, kinda like a really hot looking possum, I fell in love. Thinking of sitting in those Eucerliptus trees, carrying those naked mole rats in their bellies . . . well, it just seemed so cool. But I digress.

So when I found out the homosexual agenda had reached the koala, I was pissed! Imagine what'll happen if they all turn homosexual! There wont be any left. It's unnatural! The world will lose one of the softest, most cuddly pelts available on the black market, and the little naked mole rats in Asia will have no homes.

Please support those Muslim koalas however you can. I know they're our sworn enemy, but we need their help. We need to join the Allah koalas, and help them stop homosexuality in its tracks!

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/animals/news/article.cfm?c_id=500834&objectid=10425714

[Jellene Eva]

06:17 AM on 11/05/2011

This is very much a political strategy for Malaysia. The General Election is around the corner, so the ruling party Barisan Nasional, in favor of the conservative majority, explicitly publicize and publicly demonize the festival in hope to gather more votes in the coming Election.

The real Malaysian citizens do not react as violently towards LGBT community as portrayed by media. In fact, the Consultative Council of Non-Muslim Religion in Malaysia released a press statement this morning supporting the LGBT movement in Malaysia, supporting our request for equal human rights.

[lastride]

01:47 AM on 11/05/2011

Something interesting for you readers. Some gay muslim groups in Malaysia are against this human rights event. Reason being? To protect Islam.

[Jellene Eva]

06:19 AM on 11/05/2011

I've had a few Muslim Transsexuals and Gays tell me that they oppose Seksualiti Merdeka because it puts them in the limelight, expose them to more attacks. :( Why are they so ashamed of themselves?

[MarcEdward]

11:12 AM on 11/04/2011

Shameful, they are acting like Conservative Christians now.

[Aesthete]

11:26 AM on 11/04/2011

Convservative "Christians" in the U.S. are prohibited by the U.S. Constitution from forcing or imposing their doctrines or dogma into civil law. Maylasia, like a number of other sovreign Islamic nations, are theocratic. In such countries, the religious doctrine IS the law.

[PillowCaseLaw]

03:35 PM on 11/06/2011

A pity that it happens anyway, and that a good number of people in positions of power in the US don't see that Dominion is unconstitutional.

[Six Gator]

11:09 AM on 11/04/2011

occupy kuala lumpur...

[Mike Cat]

11:05 AM on 11/04/2011

Lets deport all the Muslim Malaysia in the States; and send them back too Malaysia.

[Dr Scott]

10:54 AM on 11/04/2011

Wow! Muslim Malaysia sounds just like Christian America!

[Six Gator]

11:11 AM on 11/04/2011

its fun to group people like that, huh?....well, not when others do that to a group YOU care about, but still....-right?...

[Dr Scott]

11:25 AM on 11/04/2011

I don't care about any groups. I'm what people call a "loner."
Ever been to a Muslim country? I've been to a lot of them. Conservative Christians, Conservative Muslims - same people. You only differ by virtue of your birth place.

[sej]

12:18 PM on 11/04/2011

If the shoe fits...

[americawasgreatonce]

10:42 AM on 11/04/2011

Islam... a tolerant, inclusive and peaceful religion.

[William Faust]

11:12 AM on 11/04/2011

It is. You see....

It is tolerant as long as you agree with them.
It is inclusive as long as you decide to be a part of them.
It is peaceful as long as you dont disagree or decide to not be a part of them.

[MarcEdward]

11:12 AM on 11/04/2011

Just like Christianity, the problem is not the religion, it's the religious conservatives.

[ThinkHappyThoughts]

10:26 AM on 11/04/2011

Another fine example of how tolerant those Muslims are.........

[standish]

12:46 AM on 11/05/2011

Just like the way the Catholic Church embraces gay people, right?

[ThinkHappyThoughts]

07:47 AM on 11/07/2011

That's the difference between the two religions in question. The Catholic Church might not embrace it, but it doesn't have to, just tolerate it, which it does.

Islam does neither.

[caveman1313]

10:23 AM on 11/04/2011

the art festival would have needlessly provoked the muuuuslims and caused violence. the festival organizers clearly have something against muuuuslims for wanting to provoke them in such a way.

[raker]

10:22 AM on 11/04/2011

There's more of that Muslim love we hear so much about.

[Drwalkinboner]

09:58 AM on 11/04/2011

Shocking for the religion of peace and tolerance. The logical next step is to put them in charge of the U.N's human rights council.

[2083]

09:58 AM on 11/04/2011

Nice to see Islam coexisting with democracy.

[mdsman]

09:51 AM on 11/04/2011

It never ceases to amaze me....
Here is a story about one thing, discrimination of an alternative lifestyle, by a particular group yet ahlf the posts are bringing another group into the discussion.
The deflection is stunning.
Let's just all agree, it is the Israelis fault

[Queeny86]

10:05 AM on 11/04/2011

the Israeli's fault... ? if you're being sarcastic, it's actually pretty funny. if not, i'm highly confused.

[BahtHarim]

10:37 AM on 11/04/2011

I Assume you're being sarcastic. But just wait. Someone will post here negatively about Israel. Just for the record, Israel has a thriving gay community and gays and lesbians serve openly in the army; there is no "don't ask, don't tell" there.

[Valksy]

09:30 AM on 11/04/2011

Religion - Working hard to turn the world to cr@p

[americawasgreatonce]

10:43 AM on 11/04/2011

yep