While I realize most gay farang traveling to Malaysia rarely encounter any problems, I don't like spending my money in countries with anti gay repressive governments. I don't need someone else's religious fanaticism deciding for me what is sexually acceptable and punishing me if my preferences don't coincide with theirs.
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Malaysian authorities raid LGBT Halloween party
October 30, 2022
Malaysia's Islamic religious officers broke up a large Halloween party attended by the LGBT community and arrested 20 people for cross-dressing and allegedly encouraging vice, activists said Sunday.
Activist Numan Afifi who was among those arrested at the event in Kuala Lumpur late Saturday described the raid as "traumatising and harrowing".
"About 40 religious officers backed by the police came into the venue with some 1,000 participants, and they stopped the music and dance," he told AFP.
Numan said authorities divided party-goers into two groups -- Muslims and followers of other faiths.
Subsequently, 20 Muslims were taken to the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department where "our identity details were recorded".
"Some were alleged to have committed offences under cross-dressing while others, including me, for encouraging vice," Numan said.
All 20 were released a few hours later but are required to return next week for questioning.
The LGBT community has continuously suffered discrimination, with conservative attitudes chipping away at the Muslim-majority nation's one-time reputation for moderation and tolerance.
Malaysia has a dual-track legal system, with sharia courts handling some cases for Muslim citizens, who make up around 60% of the population.
Homosexuality is forbidden and laws criminalising sodomy can result in imprisonment, corporal punishment and fines -- although enforcement of the law is rare.
Siti Kassim, a human rights lawyer, condemned the raid, saying "moral policing must stop".
"These people are not criminals. The oppression and discrimination against LGBT people must end immediately," she told AFP.
Opposition politician Carles Santiago called the raid "harassment against a marginalised community".
"When will we learn to respect and accept people for who they are?" he tweeted.
Rights groups have on numerous occasions slammed Malaysian authorities for discrimination and coming up with programmes to "cure" LGBT people.
"These programmes jeopardise the equality, dignity, and rights of those who attend them, but also send a dangerous message to the wider public that LGBT people can and should change their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression," Human Rights Watch said in August.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/24259 ... ween-party
Cancel my trip to Malaysia
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Re: Cancel my trip to Malaysia
GB, I totally agree with your opinion.
On a related issue, I wish that FIFA had NOT allowed the Football World Cup to be hosted in Qatar, where homosexuality is criminalized. In addition, I will NOT fly on Qatar Airways, although it has so good deals.
On a related issue, I wish that FIFA had NOT allowed the Football World Cup to be hosted in Qatar, where homosexuality is criminalized. In addition, I will NOT fly on Qatar Airways, although it has so good deals.
Re: Cancel my trip to Malaysia
As far as I know, Malaysia is just about the most liberal of the Islamic countries. Turkey is the other obvious contender, but under current leadership, I suspect Malaysia comes out top.
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Re: Cancel my trip to Malaysia
but as noted above, Malaysia has a dual-track legal system with Sharia for Muslims and something else for the others, so systemically it is fundamentally illiberal. At least Turkey has a secular civil law based on various European systems and homosexual activity is not illegal per se.
Of course, that says nothing about the reality of social attitudes towards LGBT people in those countries.
Of course, that says nothing about the reality of social attitudes towards LGBT people in those countries.
Re: Cancel my trip to Malaysia
My last trip to Malaysia was a 5 night business trip. I met 4 boys and on the other night, there was slightly too much wining & dining to consider it. 2 of the boys were non-working.
My only trip to Turkey was just over a week. No boys. Most of the ones I did speak to seemed to be macho tops. The only really promising candidate had ID card issues.
My only trip to Turkey was just over a week. No boys. Most of the ones I did speak to seemed to be macho tops. The only really promising candidate had ID card issues.