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MALAYSIA CANNOT ACCEPT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, SAYS MAHATHIR >URL=HTTPS://WWW.SWISSINFO.CH/ENG/REUTERS/MALAYSIA-CANNOT-ACCEPT-SAME-SEX-MARRIAGE--SAYS-MAHATHIR/44415870 ARCHIVE-URL=HTTPS://WEB.ARCHIVE.ORG/WEB/20180921123504/HTTPS://WWW.SWISSINFO.CH/ENG/REUTERS/MALAYSIA-CANNOT-ACCEPT-SAME-SEX-MARRIAGE--SAYS-MAHATHIR/44415870, 21 September 2018, | gender_identity_expression = No| recognition_of_relationships = No | recognition_of_relationships_restrictions = | adoption = No| military = No| discrimination_protections = No}}Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Malaysia face severe challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents.WEB, Billson, Chantelle, Call to ban Ed Sheeran from performing in Malaysia over his ‘LGBT ideology’,weblink PinkNews, 5 February 2024, Sodomy is a crime in the country, with laws enforced arbitrarily. Extrajudicial murders of LGBT people have also occurred in the country.WEB, Lang, Nico, Rape and Murder of Teen Shows Lack of Justice for LGBT Malaysians,weblink www.advocate.com, 12 December 2022, en, 6 July 2017, WEB, Ghoshal, Neela, "The Deceased Can't Speak for Herself:" Violence Against LGBT People in Malaysia,weblink Human Rights Watch, 12 December 2022, en, 25 June 2019, WEB, Yi Lih, Beh, Death of transgender woman in Malaysia sparks fears of rising hate crime,weblink Reuters, 12 December 2022, en, 17 December 2018, There are no Malaysian laws that protect the LGBT community against discrimination and hate crimes. As such, the LGBT demographic in the country are hard to ascertain due to widespread fears from being ostracised and prosecuted, including violence.In 2015, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that "Discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people is pervasive in Malaysia."WEB,weblink World Report 2015 - Malaysia, 9 January 2015, Human Rights Watch, Over the years, there have also been cases of violence against individuals in Malaysia based on their sexual orientation, and are tolerated by the state.WEB, A brutal assault and rising fear in Malaysia's LGBT community,weblink The Star (Malaysia), The Star, 27 June 2022, en, 24 August 2018, WEB, Malaysia: Government Steps Up Attacks on LGBT People,weblink Human Rights Watch, 27 June 2022, en, 25 January 2021, Conversion therapy is practiced regularly in the country and is openly promoted by politicians and religious leaders.WEB, Malaysia {{!, Outright International |url=https://outrightinternational.org/our-work/asia/malaysia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102153212weblink |archive-date=2 November 2022 |access-date=4 December 2022 |website=outrightinternational.org |language=en}} In 2023, the Global Trans Rights Index ranked Malaysia as the second worst country in the world in terms of transgender rights, only after Guyana.WEB, Global Trans Rights Index: 203 Countries Ranked in 2023,weblink Asher & Lyric, 13 June 2023, 5 June 2023, WEB, Wong, Dale John, Malaysia Is World’s Second-Worst Country for Transgender Rights, Study Shows,weblink Mashable SEA, 13 June 2023, en-sg, 13 June 2023, WEB, Braga, Brunno, Best & Worst Countries For Trans Rights In 2023,weblink Yahoo News, 13 June 2023, 9 June 2023, With widespread anti-LGBT conversion practices, discrimination, and violence in the country supported by the state, Malaysia is one of the most homophobic countries in the world.WEB, “I Don’t Want to Change Myself”,weblink Human Rights Watch, 8 June 2023, en, 10 August 2022, WEB, Malaysia: State-Backed Discrimination Harms LGBT People,weblink Human Rights Watch, 8 June 2023, en, 10 August 2022, Social attitudes towards the LGBT community in the country are largely shaped by Islam, the official state religion of Malaysia, although a significant proportion of Malaysians of other religions such as Christians also holds strong homophobic views. Ever since at least the 19th century, mores of Malaysia strongly disapproves of homosexuality and transitioning, which impacts public policy. As a result, LGBT rights are not pursued by any political parties.

History

Malaysia retains its criminal ban on sodomy (including oral sex involving the penis), which was enacted in 1871 when it was under British colonial rule (British Malaya).BOOK, Han, Enze, 3 May 2018, British Colonialism and the Criminalization of Homosexuality, Routledge, 9781351256186, {{rp|34}} It is broadly defined to include both heterosexual and homosexual acts, with possible punishments including fines, caning, and prison sentences of up to twenty years. A subsection of the Criminal Code also provides additional punishment for men convicted of "gross indecency with another male person".WEB,weblink Sodomylaws.Org, Sodomylaws.Org, 8 February 2012, In addition to the secular law, Muslim citizens may also be charged in special Islamic courts.WEB,weblink Rethinking Malaysia's sodomy laws, The Malaysian Bar, 26 July 2009, 8 February 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120305164714weblink">weblink 5 March 2012, dead, WEB,weblink A brutal assault and rising fear in Malaysia's LGBT community, 2018-08-24, The Star Online, en, 2020-01-02, There has been some public discussion about reforming the law so as to exempt private, non-commercial sexual acts between consenting adults. Some members of the major opposition party have expressed support for such a reform, most notably Latheefa Koya, but this is not the official position of the party. No political party or elected member of the Parliament has formally proposed such a reform.In 1994, the government banned anyone who is homosexual, bisexual or transsexual from appearing in state-controlled media.In 1995, the Religious Affairs Minister of the state of Selangor praised the Islamic Badar vigilante groups, who had organised in 1994, to assist in the arrest of 7,000 individuals for engaging in "unIslamic" activities such as homosexuality.In 2005, the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) chief Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor stated that the Navy would never accept homosexuals.WEB,weblink Sodomylaws.Org, Sodomylaws.Org, 8 February 2012, In 2010, the Film Censorship Board of Malaysia announced it would only allow depiction of homosexual characters as long as the characters "repent" or die.WEB,weblink Malaysia: Gay Characters OK, If They Go Straight | Entertainment News, Bolcer, Julie, 22 March 2010, The Advocate, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20100324190945weblink">weblink 24 March 2010, 8 February 2012, WEB,weblink Transgender Malaysians targeted as religious authorities' influence grows, LGBTI community says, Razak, Iskhandar, 5 July 2015, Australian Broadcasting Commission, 15 March 2017, In 2017, Malaysia tried to censor Beauty and the Beast over some gay moments but eventually relented and let the movie be shown.WEB,weblink Disney Malaysia Lodges Appeal. Censorship Board Says It Will Not, 16 March 2017, The Star Online, 6 January 2018, WEB,weblink Beauty And The Beast Postponed In Malaysia, 14 March 2017, BBC, 6 January 2018, The censorship board also had no objections to the screening of Power Rangers even with a lesbian scene in the movie.WEB,weblink Malaysia to show Power Rangers despite lesbian storyline, PinkNews, 23 March 2017, 6 January 2018, WEB,weblink Malaysia Okays "Power Rangers" Movie Despite Gay Character, newnownext, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20180106173213weblink">weblink 6 January 2018, 6 January 2018, In 2016, the High Court affirmed the right of a post-transition transgender man to reassign his gender on his national registration identity card.WEB, eLaw - TAN POOI YEE v. KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PENDAFTARAN NEGARA,weblink 2024-04-12, www.elaw.my, The following year the judgement was overturned on appeal.WEB, JALIL, MELATI A., 2017-01-05, NRD wins appeal bid to stop transgender from changing IC details,weblink 2024-04-12, Malay Mail, en, In May 2017, the LGBT pride march organised by Taylor's University planned in June was cancelled due to Islamist pressure. The event was condemned by pro-Islamist blogs because it was disrespectful to do in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.NEWS,weblink LGBT pride march in Taylor's University cancelled after Islamist pressure, 18 May 2017, Malay Mail, 8 November 2017, In September 2018, two women were convicted for attempting to have lesbian sex in a car parked in public area, and were fined 3,300 Malaysian ringgit and caned six times before an audience in a courtroom in Terengganu state. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad denounced the punishment, saying it "did not reflect the justice or compassion of Islam".WEB,weblink Women caned in Malaysia for attempting to have lesbian sex, Barnes, Tom, 2018-09-03, The Independent, en, 2020-01-02, In May 2019, a gay bar in the capital Kuala Lumpur was raided by police and religious enforcement officials, while a transgender woman was beaten up by a group of assailants in Seremban, near Kuala Lumpur. The minister in charge of Islamic affairs also came under fire from activists and other ruling party lawmakers, after he ordered the removal of portraits of two LGBT activists from an art exhibition.In November 2019, a court found five men guilty for "attempting" gay sex, under section 28 of Selangor's Sharia law, and sentenced them to fines, imprisonment and six strokes of the cane each. The five men were arrested during a 2018 raid on a private residence in Selangor, in which a total of 11 men were arrested.WEB, 2021-02-25, Malaysia's Highest Court Strikes Down State Gay Sex Ban,weblink 2022-02-01, Human Rights Watch, en, In 2021, a man who was arrested on sodomy charges filed a lawsuit against the state government of Selangor. Subsequently, the Federal Court of Malaysia declared that any state laws within Malaysia can not be in conflict or override with clear federal laws banning gay sex.WEB,weblink Malaysian man wins landmark challenge against Muslim gay sex ban, 26 February 2021, WEB,weblink A Malaysian man has won a landmark challenge against Islamic laws banning gay sex, WEB,weblink Malaysian man wins landmark challenge against Muslim gay sex ban, CNN, 26 February 2021, In 2022, Malaysian authorities raided a Halloween party, arresting dozens of participants that were a part of the LGBTQ+ community.WEB, Malaysian Authorities Raid LGBT Halloween Party,weblink voanews.com, VOA, 10 June 2023, Numan Afifi, an LGBT rights activist who was among those arrested, referred to it as "outrageous state oppression".In 2023, Malaysian authorities seized rainbow-coloured watches made by Swatch from its Pride collection. Eleven shopping malls with Swatch outlets around Malaysia, including in the capital Kuala Lumpur, were raided in May.WEB, Malaysia confiscates ‘LGBT’ rainbow Swatch watches,weblink The Guardian, Agence France-Presse, 22 July 2023,weblink 24 May 2023, 23 May 2023, In July, Swatch stated that they will sue Malaysia.WEB, Swiss watchmaker Swatch sues Malaysia for seizure of Pride watches,weblink Reuters, 22 July 2023,weblink 22 July 2023, en, 17 July 2023, In July 2023, English pop rock band The 1975 was forced by the organisers of Good Vibes Festival to prematurely end their performance after their lead vocalist Matty Healy criticised the country's widespread anti-LGBT laws and kissed fellow band mate Ross MacDonald. Healy added that they initially didn't want to visit Malaysia, stating that "I made a mistake. When we were booking shows, I wasn't looking into it," he said. "I don't see the fucking point... of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with."WEB, Rock band The 1975's set stopped in Malaysia after onstage kiss,weblink Reuters, 22 July 2023,weblink 22 July 2023, en, 22 July 2023, WEB, Murphy, Matt, Matty Healy: 1975 show ended in Malaysia after singer attacks anti-LGBT laws,weblink BBC News, 22 July 2023,weblink 22 July 2023, 22 July 2023, WEB, Kreps, Daniel, The 1975's Set at Malaysia Festival Cut Short as Matty Healy Slams Anti-LGBTQ Laws,weblink Rolling Stone, 22 July 2023,weblink 22 July 2023, 21 July 2023, WEB, Aniftos, Rania, Matty Healy Says The 1975 Is Banned From Kuala Lumpur After Onstage Kiss,weblink Billboard, 22 July 2023,weblink 22 July 2023, 21 July 2023, Human rights and LGBT activist Peter Tatchell, writing for The Guardian wrote that criticism of Healy and the band "deflect attention from where the criticisms should be most urgently directed: against the homophobia of the Kuala Lumpur regime." He also expressed that Healy is no white saviour for showing solidarity to the community as "queer rights are a universal human right, not a western one".NEWS, Tatchell, Peter, 2023-07-25, Matty Healy is not a 'white saviour' for showing solidarity with Malaysia's LGBTQ+ people, en-GB, The Guardian,weblink 2023-07-26, 0261-3077, That same month, 8 individuals were arrested by the police in Kuala Lumpur for staging a demonstration supporting LGBT rights.WEB, Cops arrest 8 men over gathering supporting LGBT rights,weblink freemalaysiatoday.com, Free Malaysia Today, 1 August 2023, On February 9, 2024, the Federal Court of Malaysia struck down 16 Sharia-based Kelantan state laws; parts of which covered incest, sodomy, and cross-dressing. However, this ruling does not affect anti-LGBT laws at the federal level. Malaysia’s top court invalidates state’s Islam-based laws on incest, sodomy and other offenses. February 9, 2024 AP News. Eileen Ng.

Adoption and family planning

Based on the Adoption Act 1952 (Adoption Act) and the Registration of Adoption Act 1952 (ROAA), there is no restrictions for a single person to adopt regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.NEWS,weblink Adoption Process in Malaysia: In Brief, Halim Hong & Quek Advocates & Solicitors, en, 30 June 2022,

Gender identity and expression

{{See also|Legal status of transgender people}}Human Rights Watch reports that state-level Sharia (Islamic) laws prohibit cross-dressing, and transgender people "face arbitrary arrest, physical and sexual assault, imprisonment, discriminatory denial of health care and employment, and other abuses."Transgender individuals have often been arrested by police officers under the civil laws governing "public indecency", and if they are Muslim, can be further charged by religious officers under Sharia Laws for "impersonating" women. A 2014 Human Rights Watch report alleged that transgender people are subjected to "assault, extortion, and violations of their privacy rights" by police, and humiliation, physical and sexual assault by Religious Department officials.WEB,weblink Malaysia: Transgender People Under Threat, 25 Sep 2014, Human Rights Watch, In 1998, 45 Muslim transvestites were charged and convicted in court for dressing as women, and 23 more transgender persons faced similar fines and imprisonment in 1999.WEB,weblink Malaysian Trans People Leap Forward With The First Political Appointee and The "My Trans Ally" Project, Busey, Kelli, 2013-07-28, Planet Transgender, 2020-01-02, 22 June 2019,weblink dead, It has been estimated that a large number of transgender persons are forced to work on the streets as commercial sex workers to earn a living.In November 2014, three transgender women from the state of Negeri Sembilan arrested for cross-dressing via Sharia law successfully appealed for review of the judicial law at the Court of Appeal for appropriate clothing of people with gender dysphoria. Due to the lack of a mention of gender dysphoria and the lack of medical evidence for a state legal adviser's claim that transgender people were insane, the court unanimously declared the anti-cross-dressing Sharia law as void and violating the constitutional right of "freedom of expression, movement and the right to live in dignity and equality".WEB,weblink Negri lost transgender case over failure to argue medical issue, says court, 11 November 2014, Malaysia Today, On 8 October 2015, the Federal Court of Malaysia overturned the ruling on procedural grounds. The Court found that the three women should have obtained judicial permission of a Federal Court judge when they commenced their constitutional challenge. Although a High Court judge had granted permission in November 2011, the Federal Court ruled that it had done so erroneously.WEB,weblink Malaysia: Court Ruling Sets Back Transgender Rights, 2015-10-08, Human Rights Watch, en, 2020-01-02, WEB,weblink Malaysian Court Reverses Transgender Legal Victory, Georgantopoulos, Mary Ann, 8 October 2015, BuzzFeed News, en, 2020-01-02, In August 2016, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered the National Registration Department (NRD) to update a trans man’s information on his identity card to better reflect his gender identity and chosen name.WEB, eLaw - TAN POOI YEE v. KETUA PENGARAH JABATAN PENDAFTARAN NEGARA,weblink 2024-04-12, www.elaw.my, The judge argued that "the plaintiff has a precious constitutional right to life under Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution, and the concept of life under Article 5 must necessarily encompass the plaintiff’s right to live with dignity as a male and be legally accorded judicial recognition as a male."WEB,weblink SAMAN PEMULA NO: 24NCVC-1306-08 /2015, justiceforsisters, WEB,weblink Good news from Malaysia, Namibia, Ukraine, 2016-08-30, Erasing 76 Crimes, en-US, 2020-01-02, In 2017, this judgement was overturned on appeal.WEB, JALIL, MELATI A., 2017-01-05, NRD wins appeal bid to stop transgender from changing IC details,weblink 2024-04-12, Malay Mail, en,

Blood donation

Homosexuals and bisexuals are prohibited from donating blood by the National Blood Centre of Malaysia. This policy seems to be gender neutral, since it doesn't explicitly mention the gender that is prohibited from donating blood.WEB,weblink 12 July 2022, malay, Kriteria Penderma Darah,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160803170254weblink">weblink 3 August 2016, dead,

Public opinion

A 2013 Pew Research Center opinion survey showed that only 9% of the Malaysian population believe homosexuality should be accepted by society, while 86% believe it should not.WEB,weblink The Global Divide on Homosexuality, 2013-06-04, Pew Research Center, en-US, 2020-01-02, Malaysia was one of the countries in Asia polled with the least acceptance of homosexuality.A poll by Pew Research Center released in September 2023 found that support for same-sex marriage in Malaysia has risen to 17%. 59% of Buddhists, 35% of Christians and 49% of Hindus support same-sex marriage.WEB, Lim, Ida, 2023-09-12, Pew survey: Eight in 10 Malaysians oppose same-sex marriage, local Buddhists most supportive,weblink 2023-12-23, Malay Mail, en,

LGBT rights in Malaysian politics

There is no legal protection for LGBT individuals. A few MPs from the previous ruling coalition, Pakatan Harapan, have voiced support for LGBT rights, as has Marina Mahathir the daughter of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad who called for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientations in 1998 and 1999.WEB,weblink PM's daughter slams Malaysian anti-gay group, 1998-10-23, BBC News, 2014-01-07, Parti Sosialis Malaysia is the only political party to openly support and defend the rights of LGBT people alongside other minority rights. A contrasting political force is the "People's Anti-Homosexual Voluntary Movement", created in 1998 to lobby for stricter criminal laws against homosexuality. It is a member of the former ruling party United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).WEB,weblink Sodomylaws.Org, Sodomylaws.Org, 8 February 2012, In 2011, Seksualiti Merdeka (Independent Sexuality), an annual sexuality rights event, was centered around the theme of “Queer without Fear”. Publicity for the event featured videos of several Malaysian citizens proclaiming their queer identity, calling for the equality of LGBT rights. After publicizing the event, the Royal Malaysia Police released a statement banning the event, based on the premises of risking disturbance of public order and impeding on religious freedom.NEWS, Seksualiti Merdeka movement festival banned,weblink 22 November 2018, The Star, 22 November 2018, In 2014, Section 27 A(1)(C) of the Police Act, which was used to ban the event, was superseded by the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA). This resulted in the ban on the event being lifted.NEWS, Seksualiti Merdeka organisers hope to outlast prejudicial law,weblink 22 November 2018, Malay Mail, 22 November 2018, In April 2015, Nisha Ayub, a transgender woman and activist, aided three Muslim trans women in challenging the Sharia legislation outlawing males cross-dressing as females in the state of Negeri Sembilan through the JFS organisation. While the case was won in the Court of Appeal, the Federal Court later repealed the decision in October 2015.NEWS, Transgender activist Nisha Ayub to receive international human rights accolade,weblink 22 November 2018, Malay Mail, 22 November 2018, NEWS, Malaysia court upholds ban on cross dressing by transgender Muslims,weblink 22 November 2018, Reuters, 22 November 2018, In March 2019, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Mohammadin Ketapi denied the existence of LGBT people in Malaysia, telling German reporters in the 2019 ITB Berlin tourism trade fair: "I don't think we have anything like that in our country." However, he later posted a statement on Twitter saying that his statement referred to the non-existence of specific LGBT-focused tourist campaigns in the country.WEB,weblink There are no gay people in Malaysia says tourism minister, McKirdy, Euan, 7 March 2019, CNN, 2019-03-08, When a Women's Day march was held in Kuala Lumpur on the same month, it was condemned by government officials and the political parties of United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) as the march involved LGBT rights among its demands.WEB,weblink Mujahid shocked Women's Day march was used to promote LGBT, Lim, Ida, 9 March 2019, Malay Mail, en, 2020-01-02, WEB,weblink Uproar in Malaysia over LGBT groups at Women's Day march, 2019-03-10, New Straits Times, en, 2020-01-02, In April 2019, Malaysian authorities were accused for intimidating gay rights activist Numan Afifi by questioning him in the police station about a speech he made in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva in March 2019. The speech pointed out that Malaysia rejected the recommendations of a coalition of twelve Malaysian LGBT organizations on gender identity and sexual orientation.WEB,weblink Activist Numan Afifi investigated over LGBT speech at United Nations - Nation {{!, The Star Online|last=Chu|first=Mei Mei|date=16 April 2019|website=The Star Online|access-date=2019-05-15}}In May 2019, George Clooney warned Malaysia and Indonesia against legislating a law allowing them to impose death penalty for homosexuality, as Brunei has legislated. The response of the Deputy Foreign Minister, Marzuki Yahya pointed out that Malaysia does not kill gay people, and will not resort to killing sexual minorities. He also said that though such lifestyles deviate from Islam, the government would not impose such a punishment on the group.WEB,weblink LGBT culture against Islamic principles but Malaysia doesn't kill gays, deputy minister tells George Clooney {{!, Malay Mail|last=Palansamy|first=Yiswaree|date=14 May 2019|website=Malay Mail|language=en|access-date=2019-05-15}}In May 2020, a man filed a challenge in the Federal Court against Islamic laws banning "intercourse against the order of nature" in Selangor state.WEB, Malaysia's Islamic laws banning gay sex challenged in court for first time,weblink 2020-05-27, South China Morning Post, en, 2020-05-27, On 25 February 2021, the Federal Court unanimously declared that the Selangor state law provision which made unnatural sex a Sharia offence was invalid as it contradicted the Federal Constitution and that such offences fall under Parliament's jurisdiction. The summary of the judgement was read out by Chief Justice, Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.NEWS, Lim, Ida, Federal Court unanimously declares Selangor Shariah law criminalising 'unnatural sex' void, unconstitutional,weblink 26 February 2021, Malay Mail, 25 February 2021,

The position of former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad

In 2001, in his previous term as Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad stated that the country will deport any visiting foreign cabinet ministers or diplomats who are gay.WEB,weblink Malaysia Won't Welcome Gay Officials, 2 November 2001, GLAPN, 8 February 2012, Mahathir also warned gay ministers in foreign countries not to bring along their partners while visiting the nation.NEWS,weblink BBC News, Gay ministers barred, Malaysia tells UK, 1 November 2001, 7 May 2010, Mahathir's daughter, Marina Mahathir, however has called for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation.NEWS,weblink BBC News, PM's daughter slams Malaysian anti-gay group, 23 October 1998, 7 May 2010, During a lecture to students in a university in Bangkok, Thailand, in October 2018, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad stated that Malaysia would not "copy" Western nations' approach towards LGBT rights, indicating that these countries were exhibiting a disregard for the institutions of the traditional family and marriage, as the value system in Malaysia is good.WEB,weblink Mahathir claims LGBT rights are 'Western values' not fit for Malaysia, 2018-10-26, South China Morning Post, en, 2019-05-15, In June 2019, he reiterated his stance, speaking at the Cambridge Union, he said that Malaysia cannot accept same-sex marriage or LGBT rights, saying “I don’t understand gay marriage. In Malaysia there are some things we cannot accept, even though it is seen as human rights in Western countries,” adding that same-sex marriage is a “regressive way of thinking” and that marriage was about having children and he claimed that the institution of marriage has almost been discarded.WEB,weblink Mahathir says no to gay marriage, admits he sometimes agrees with lazy Malay stereotype, Ang, Matthias, 18 June 2019, Mothership, en-US, 2020-01-02, WEB,weblink Same-Sex Marriage Is "Regressive", Says Dr Mahathir At Cambridge Talk, Choi, Tze Chun, 2019-06-17, Must Share News, en-US, 2020-01-02,

Prosecution of Anwar Ibrahim

In 1998, Anwar Ibrahim was charged with corruption and sodomy. In 2000, he was sentenced to nine years for engaging in sodomy with his 19-year-old male chauffeur and his former male speech writer. Despite national and international protests, he was not released until he had served out four years of his sentence, until 2004, when the Federal Court of Malaysia acquitted him of all charges.WEB,weblink Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim Set Free, 2 September 2004, GLAPN, 8 February 2012, After his release, Anwar stated that he was innocent and the allegations were part of a government conspiracy to end his political career. He also felt that the national criminal laws against homosexuality ought to be reformed to protect consenting adults' rights to have a private life, although he also stated that same-sex marriage "is going a bit too far".WEB,weblink Anwar Seeks Privacy Provision in Malaysia Gay Laws, 11 November 2004, GLAPN, 8 February 2012, In 2007, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad responded to a civil lawsuit filed by Anwar by stating that a homosexual should not hold public office in Malaysia and that he knew Anwar was a homosexual because Anwar's male chauffeur and a male speech writer both stated in court that they had had sexual relations with Anwar.WEB,weblink Former PM says gays should not rule mostly Muslim Malaysia, 9 January 2007, Advocate.com, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070111075957weblink">weblink 11 January 2007, 8 April 2017, we cannot have a prime minister who is homosexual, In July 2008, Anwar was arrested again, accused of sodomy with a male former aide. The arrest came shortly after Anwar claimed to be in a position to challenge the governing coalition after the opposition's successes in the March elections.NEWS,weblink BBC News, Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim arrested, 16 July 2008, 7 May 2010, However, he was released on bail and won the campaign for his former seat in Parliament.In the beginning of 2015, Anwar was again arrested and sentenced to five years in prison.NEWS,weblink Malaysia jails Anwar Ibrahim for five years for sodomy, 2014-03-07, BBC News, 2020-01-02, en-GB, On 16 May 2018, Malaysia's former king, Sultan Muhammad V, officially pardoned Anwar after meeting with members of the pardons board and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. The full royal pardon was made on the basis of a "miscarriage of justice".NEWS,weblink Malaysia's jailed leader-in-waiting has been released from custody and given a full royal pardon, 16 May 2018, Business Insider Malaysia, 18 May 2018, 11 June 2019,weblink dead,

The position of Najib Razak

Ex-Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak made clear in a speech in August 2015 at an international Islamic moderation seminar in Selangor, that he believed Malaysia should not support LGBT rights. Najib stated that his administration will do its best to uphold human rights but only within the confines of Islam and that Malaysia cannot defend the more "extreme aspect of human rights", such as gay, lesbian and transsexual rights. This prompted Human Rights Watch to suggest that Malaysia withdraw from the United Nations if the government was not serious about upholding human rights for all.WEB,weblink Quit UN if not keen to defend human rights for all, watchdog tells Putrajaya, Ging, Yap Tzu, 18 August 2016, Malaymail Online, 24 August 2015,

LGBT-supporting organisations in Malaysia

File:KLLGBTCentre0.jpg|thumb|The PT FoundationPT FoundationMalaysia does not have a national organisation committed to LGBT rights. Instead, a loose coalition of non-governmental organisations, artists, and individuals organise the annual sexuality rights festival Seksualiti Merdeka. Seksualiti Merdeka, meaning "Independent Sexuality", is an annual festival consisting of talks, performances, screenings, workshops, and forums to promote sexuality rights as a human right, to empower marginalised individuals and communities, and to create platforms for advocacy. Besides organising the programmes of this annual festival, members of this coalition are also involved in letter-writing campaigns, organising regular film screenings and discussions, academic advocacy and training of trainers. However, the Government has attempted to prevent these events from happening since 2011.The groups involved in Seksualiti Merdeka have also on their own advocated for the rights of LGBT within the framework of human rights advocacy. These include established human rights organisations such as the Human Rights Committee of the Malaysian Bar, SUARAM, PT Foundation, KRYSS, Women's Candidacy Initiative, Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER), Purple Lab, Matahari Books, and The Annexe Gallery.Several other groups such as Sisters in Islam, Women's Aid Organisation, and Amnesty International also have dealt with sexual orientation issues within their public health advocacy. The focus on AIDS-HIV education has allowed for more public discussion of sexual orientation, gender identity and human rights. PT Foundation, originally called Pink Triangle, focuses on "providing HIV/AIDS education, prevention, care and support programs, sexuality awareness and empowerment programs for vulnerable communities in Malaysia". The communities include MSM (men who have sex with men), transgender, sex workers, drug users, and people living with HIV. They are joined by other organisations, such as LPG (for gay men) and OutDo (for lesbians), which organise regular activities for their target communities.

HIV/AIDS issues

File:MajlisAIDSMalaysia.jpg|thumb|The Malaysian AIDS CouncilMalaysian AIDS CouncilWhile not solely a problem for LGBT people, the public health response to AIDS-HIV has required greater public discussion of topics such as human sexuality, gender roles, and sexual orientation.Since the first official case of AIDS appeared in the nation in 1985, the government has been under more pressure to promote education and prevention campaigns as some experts have suggested that the number of Malaysians infected with HIV could go as high as 300,000 by the year 2015.WEB,weblink HIV infections in Malaysia could surge to 300,000 by 2015, official warns, 29 March 2009, International Herald Tribune, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110518224427weblink">weblink 2011-05-18, 8 February 2012, NEWS,weblink Malaysian says government cannot openly advocate condom use to fight AIDS, 2007-05-21, The New York Times, 2020-01-02, en-US, 0362-4331, In 2006, the Government launched a new comprehensive public campaign that includes therapy and needle exchange programs for drug addicts and free medications provided at government clinics. However, in 2007, Malaysia's Ministry of Health was banned from advocating the use of condoms to prevent the spread of the disease due to a concern that such a campaign would be equated with a governmental endorsement of sexual conduct outside of a legal marriage.WEB,weblink HIV/AIDS | Malaysia Health Ministry Cannot Promote Condom Use To Prevent Spread of HIV, Official Says –, Globalhealthreporting.org, 8 February 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20071223150007weblink">weblink 23 December 2007, dmy-all, {{clear}}

Summary table{| class"wikitable"

| Same-sex sexual activity legalImage:X mark.svg>15px Penalty: Up to 20 years imprisonment with caning in malaysia>caning, fines and deportation.| Equal age of consentNo| Freedom of expressionNo| Anti-discrimination laws in employmentNo| Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and servicesNo| Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech)No| Same-sex marriage(s)No| Recognition of same-sex couplesNo| Stepchild adoption by same-sex couplesNo| Adoption by single people regardless of sexual orientation15px|Yes)| Joint adoption by same-sex couplesNo| LGBT people allowed to serve in the military15px|No)| Right to change legal gender15px|No)| Access to IVF for lesbiansNo| Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples15pxWEBSITE=WHEREIVF.COMACCESS-DATE=2020-01-02, Men who have sex with men>MSMs allowed to donate bloodNo|Conversion therapy bannedNo The government promotes it.

See also

• Human rights in Malaysia
• LGBT rights in Asia
• Seksualiti Merdeka
• Asmara Songsang
• PT Foundation

References

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

Further reading

• "weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160304061239weblink">Advancing LGBT rights in Malaysia – Jackson Yee CS" (opinion). The Malaysian Insider. 20 May 2014.

External links

• Pink Triangle Foundation us
• queermalaysians
• Equalidex listing

{{Criminalization of homosexuality}}{{Malaysia topics}}{{Asia in topic|LGBT rights in}}