Oh. So its just for Muslims? I thought its for everyone. haha..

Of course not. I'm just curious because I just remembered reading articles of this long time ago. haha.

Yeah, based on sharia law for muslims (which is individually governed by each state), cross-dressing is illegal. It's not applicable for non-muslims. But in terms of stigma, I'm sure the society will judge everyone the same.

At least 117 LGBTQ people were murdered last year in Mexico
Source: https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/community/135704...year-in-mexico/

2019 was the deadliest year on record for the LGBTQ community in Mexico for five years.

At least 117 LGBTQ people were murdered in Mexico in the past year. The figures were released by the LGBTQ advocacy group, Letra S. They also showed that this was an increase in LGBTQ murders, nearly a third (27%) up from 2018 and the highest figure since 2015.

The numbers come from official news reports about murders, but the group said that the number could be higher. The group revealed that more than half of the victims were trans women, while a third of them were gay men.

Overall, there have been at least over 441 murders of LGBTQ people over the past five years. And so far this year, there have been at least 26 LGBTQ murders, with 20 of the victims being trans women.

Speaking to Reuters, Alejandro Brito, the director of Letra S, said: “We’ve documented that victims are subjected to multiple forms of violence, before or even after they were murdered.”

He added that “there is a cruelty towards the victims.” Victims have had their bodies dumped in public places after being handcuffed and stabbed multiple times.

Brito continued, saying that one of the reasons in the recent surge of violence towards the LGBTQ community could be to do with an increase in LGBTQ rights, 32 of Mexico’s states now allow same-sex marriage.

“The greater visibility … has led macho groups, fundamentalist sectors to reject this public presence of gays, lesbians and trans people,” he said, saying the violence was “specifically directed” at the LGBTQ community.

Last year, anti-LGBTQ protesters protested outside the Museum of the Palace of Fine Arts after a row erupted over how a revolutionary leader was depicted in a painting.

The painting, titled The Revolution, showed Emiliano Zapata, a leading figure in the Mexican revolution, riding an erect white horse while only wearing a pink sombrero, high heels and a ribbon.

Protesters shouted homophobic slurs, and two LGBTQ activists at a counter-protest were attacked. The Mexican president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, condemned the attack on the activists, saying: “There shouldn’t be hate crimes, I condemn it with all my soul, we don’t accept that.”

Not in msia....as long u are rich and famous you are safe

If msia is so strict....long time ago nur sajat adi jailed

Just go tasik permaisuri ...then u will surprise how open and acceptance the public towards trans....almost all mamak there is a nest for lgbt...in which i see peace upon us

Oh right, I forgot about Sajat lol. But to be fair she does get harassed on a constant basis by trolls so no amount of money can change that.

Leaked Zoom call exposes Azerbaijani politicians’ open homophobia
Source: https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/05/19/leake...terminate-gays/



Leaked footage from Zoom calls between senior Azerbaijani politicians has uncovered appalling levels of homophobia within the top ranks of the opposition party.

The four videos leaked between May 13 and 17 reveal conversations between leading members of the National Council of Democratic Forces, an alliance of opposition parties in Azerbaijan.

In one shocking video the politicians discuss the importance of LGBT+ rights to their Western supporters, a translation by OC Media reports.

Gultakin Hajibayli, a former MP and member of the National Council’s Coordination Centre, warned that “the number one priority for the West is the rights of sexual minorities, the rights of undesirables.”

She then turned the conversation to the sexual orientation of Ismail Djalilov, an openly gay Azerbaijani journalist who has previously criticised Hajibayli.

As the politicians join her in criticising the journalist’s sexuality, Rafik Manafli, a board member of the Civil Unity Party, calls Djalilov a “male whore” and said that “it’s a pity that Hitler did not exterminate all the gays in his time.”

After that, a member of the National Council, Ganimat Zahid can be heard saying, “Our meeting is going live, be careful.”

It remains unclear who leaked the footage on Facebook, but it spread quickly and launched a scandal in Azerbaijani politics.

The Chairman of the National Council Jamil Hasanli called the distribution of the video “cybercrime” and blamed both the Azerbaijani government and the State Security Service.

Homosexuality is not criminalised in the former Soviet republic but discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is still legal, and common. In 2016, Azerbaijan was ranked the worst place in Europe to be LGBT+.

Talking to BBC Azerbaijan on May 14, Hajibayli admitted that she used “harsh” and “rude” language, but claimed that she was talking about “a specific person, not about sexual minorities.”

“I have written an apology in this regard. If someone in Azerbaijan, a member of a sexual minority or group, applied these words to themselves then this is wrong,” she said.

She also added that the words Djalilov had used to criticise her were “incomparably stronger than the ones I used in the video”.

Manafli has refused to apologise to the journalist, saying: “I cannot accept his demonstrative promotion of LGBT+ people.”

However, he was prepared to admit that his comments about exterminating gays were “unfortunate and inappropriate.”

-----

Conversation about LGBT between Malaysian opposition politicians probably has a similar tone.

is this place for gay people or open for all people to ask question?
i dun want kacau if you all not welcome straight people

We welcome everybody, regardless of sexual orientation and identity. As long as we are respectful and sincere, then feel free to ask questions and express yourself here.

well the tolerance level is still there for famous ppl like Sajat and others trans celeb ie safie illias/riz ulala.....just that of coz cyber bully is something inevitable but hey at least they dun really kacao you in real life / physical harassment / close your business / etc ...basically u still living the extravaganza life and freedom to express in social media.

thats why in msia we are quite ok for trans ....if syria/arab i think long gone adi these ppl

Yeah, I guess that's true.

I hope one day we get to see Sajat and co in mainstream media (and not in some criminal news/documentary).

Homophobic babysitter slaps young boy in her care for dancing
Source: https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/05/11/homop...cky-hate-crime/



A mother has spoken out after a video went viral of her son being hit for dancing “gay” by his babysitter.

The clip of a young boy being hit for learning a popular TikTok dance routine alongside his sister, initially posted to Instagram Stories, has racked up more than eight million views on Twitter.

Before slapping the child, the woman behind the camera can be heard saying: “You don’t do that s**t! F**k wrong with you? Gay a** b***h!”

The video was captioned: “Had to slap blxxd this not it.”

While thousands of homophobes online rushed to praise the decision to hit the child, the family involved in the clip have spoken out.

In a follow-up video with the boy, Brandon, his mother – who has not been identified publicly – revealed that the person responsible for hitting him was a babysitter who has since been reported to the police.

She explained: “I am his mother and I am not the one who was behind the camera. Everybody thinks it’s me and was saying negative things about me, but I’m not worried about that. My son is fine and he is being loved right.”

The mum continued: “I didn’t find out what happened until two or three days after the video was made, when my son’s godmother told me about this (going viral).

“I didn’t know what to do… I was not home at the time, my son never told me about this, but it is being handled, and the law is involved. It’s something I’ve got to deal with.”

Family ‘will love him whether he’s gay or not’.

This post has been edited by internaldisputes: May 21 2020, 08:36 AM

Oh. Okay. Haha. Just needed to clarify that. Yeah. Its just everyone else's perception because its still not a common thing.

Federal Court allows challenge to Syariah jurisdiction on unnatural sex



The Federal Court has granted leave for a challenge filed by a man who was charged in the Selangor Syariah High Court with attempting to commit unnatural sexual intercourse.

The application from the man challenged the constitutionality of Section 28 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995 on "Sexual intercourse against the order of nature"...

Subscribe to Malaysiakini to read more: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/527383




This post has been edited by internaldisputes: May 27 2020, 09:36 AM

Gay will tell you he is born gay, maybe never piap the gf so she cheated on him

The tendency of such case is rare .. Maybe he is finding excuse or he is gay all along ..

Or simply because he's bisexual in the first place, but trauma hits him so hard that he stops loving girls (temporarily).

Did he say he's gay now? Does he have a bf? If he's just hanging out with the gay guys in gym doesn't make him gay!

Understanding the Laws Against Us and What We Can Do About Them
Source: https://www.queerlapis.com/the-laws-against-us/

NATHALIE tries to distil the knowledge and insight on the current anti-LGBTQ laws in Malaysia from ‘DISKUSI: The Laws Against Us’. She writes from the perspective of a practising lawyer and ally who firmly believes in free access to legal knowledge.

Applying the law can sometimes be like using a crude and blunt tool to repair a delicate object. But, what of the situation where there is nothing to fix?

This is the case for the enforcement of laws against consensual, private acts by LGBTQ individuals. Like many laws, they affirm certain moral values, which in turn justify the existence of such laws. This creates an endless cycle—a feedback loop—that not only excuses many types of violence against LGBTQ persons, but also makes it much more difficult to change narratives, whether in the public sphere or in parliament (for civil laws) or state legislative assemblies (for Syariah laws).

This was the major underlying theme during the online discussion ‘DISKUSI: The Laws Against Us’ organised by LGBTQ communities on 11 May 2020. Moderated by Gavin Chow, it featured activists Yee Shan and Mus, and legal experts Nurul, Andi and Alicia. The speakers not only provided a comprehensive overview of the existing legal framework—both civil and Syariah—but also addressed the systemic and institutional nature of discrimination and violence against LGBTQ persons, and the practical limitations of getting legal help as a queer person in Malaysia.

The layers of discrimination

The discrimination experienced by LGBTQ persons in the legal system in Malaysia has many layers to it, but generally fall under 2 categories:

• direct; and
• indirect (systemic or institutionalised).

The legal speakers at DISKUSI did a brilliant job explaining both the types of laws that are directly discriminatory, as well as indirectly discriminatory against LGBTQ persons in Malaysia.

The laws that indirectly, or systemically, or institutionally discriminate against LGBTQ persons, or even non-LGBTQ persons who are associated with LGBTQ persons or the community, or perceived to have LGBTQ qualities, were also a point of discussion, for example:

• Section 377A (read with 377B) of the Penal Code (criminalising both consensual and non-consensual oral and anal intercourse) being used almost exclusively against LGBTQ persons, even though cis-heterosexual people may also be charged for engaging in oral and anal sex;
• Section 5 of the Film Censorship Act 2002 (criminalising possession, custody or control of films which are obscene or against public decency) being used to ban homosexual content in films, with the exception of homosexual characters having to ‘repent’ (read: become straight), be portrayed in a negative light or befell misfortune.

Recently, 12 men were arrested and charged in November 2019 at the Selangor Syariah High Court. 9 men were charged under Section 28 of the Selangor Syariah law (criminalising consensual and non-consensual sexual intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal). The 3 other men were charged for abetment and conspiracy under the Selangor Syariah law.

Section 28 is another example of a law that, while applicable to even cisgender and heterosexual persons, is more likely, if not almost exclusively, wielded against the LGBTQ community.

Institutions are not people, but they run on people

During DISKUSI, a participant reflected that he has received a mix of positive and negative experiences as a transgender male lawyer.

This goes to show that institutionalised discrimination is not a numbers game. It is not a case of ‘bad apples’ spoiling the stock. An institution can be inherently discriminatory without having to reach a certain percentage of ‘discriminatory’ people.

It is heartening to note that the Malaysian courts have given the LGBTQ community cause for victory, such as the Court of Appeal’s decision in 2014 which declared that the Section 66 of the Negeri Sembilan State Syariah Criminal Enactment which criminalises males who dress or pose as women, or “cross-dress”, as being unconstitutional because they were inconsistent with Articles 5 (Right to life and personal liberties), 8 (Right to equality and non-discrimination), 9 (Right to freedom of movement) and 10 (Freedom of speech, assembly and association) of the Federal Constitution.

Yet such victories are often hard-won through many years of litigation. These positive stories are also rarely heard in personal anecdotes from many LGBTQ persons. This is because, aside from laws that discriminate against LGBT persons, there are many fears and stigmas which are almost exclusive to LGBTQ persons, that are not directly attributed to the legal system, such as the fears of:

• being outed;
• publicity in the mass media;
• being ostracized by their family and community;
• their employers finding out;
• spiritual or religious consequences.

Such fears and stigma may be strong motivating factors for queer people to plead guilty for consensual private acts, avoid seeking help and sometimes even ‘return to the right path’, just so that they can be free of the criminal justice system as soon as possible. On top of this, the lack of access to justice and information to LGBTQ persons arising from the legal system can also create huge problems.

Lack of access to justice & information

It was interesting to note the challenges and issues that activists Yee Shan and Mus respectively faced when monitoring cases in which LGBT persons were prosecuted for consensual sex acts, notably the lack of access to:

• resources and information on where to get help;
• mental health services;
• safe spaces;
• resources (e.g. shelters, counselling) relating to domestic violence.

More depressingly, they also highlighted the way the system does not encourage or facilitate access to the above, and in fact, sometimes discourages LGBT persons from getting help particularly from activist groups.

Intersectional discrimination

The diskusi on DISKUSI aside, it is important to remember that no two LGBTQ persons’ experience with discrimination in law and legal enforcement are the same.

From arrest to sentencing, there are various stages in which many characteristics will come into play in determining your chances of getting fair and just treatment in the criminal justice system, such as the tone of your skin and the quality of your clothes. Some LGBTQ people are also more visible than others, and that visibility can make them more prone to bullying, harassment and other forms of discrimination and violence. For example, the queerness of certain transgender women is more visible than others.

The level of access to justice can also vary from person to person. Traditionally, access to justice is understood as access to legal representation. However, in a broader sense, it also includes access to legal information, affordable legal fees, etc.

The mental health of an LGBTQ person can be affected by whether they are able to confide in others about their experiences in the criminal justice system and whether they have family and community who will support them during the process – whether it is by giving spiritual, moral or financial support. Some LGBTQ persons are also more likely than others to be wrongfully dismissed at work if the employer finds out.

It is only by recognizing that different people can experience discrimination and violence from the enforcement of anti-LGBTQ laws, that we can begin to build our vision of a better legal framework.

What you can do

1. Going to court and filing a judicial review
   
   Unfortunately, this option is only available to those who are considered to be ‘adversely affected’ (as opposed to a stranger) by the decision of a ‘public authority’ (as opposed to a private entity). Only such persons can file a judicial review against a decision that is unconstitutional.
   
   Judicial review can be costly for many, but there may be law firms out there who would be willing to do the job pro-bono. Law firms that are known for strategic litigation are your best bet. Note that you only have 3 months from the date of the decision to file for leave for judicial review, so you need to move fast and consult a lawyer as soon as possible.
   
2. Amending or abolishing anti-LGBTQ laws
   
   Only Members of Parliament or State Assembly Representatives can amend or abolish anti-LGBTQ laws. Unless you have your lawmaker on speed dial, you have to resort to other methods of persuasion. There are various ways to pressure the majority of the day to change the laws, ranging from writing for QueerLapis (starting by clicking on this link to submit your article) to being quietly subversive in your own everyday life.

Concluding remarks

All the above shows that discrimination and violence against LGBTQ persons do not just happen on an individual level. They also occur on a wider, systemic level, which is not only used to, but favourable towards, individuals who fit traditional forms of gender expression, sexual orientation and gender identity (a.k.a. cis-heteronormative).

Dismantling any discriminatory laws requires time and must be done in tandem dismantling discriminatory mindsets within the community. For the law is nothing but an expression of the general will of the people.

This post has been edited by internaldisputes: May 27 2020, 02:59 PM

FAQ on the Federal Court case challenging Selangor’s Syariah law on unnatural sex
Source: https://www.queerlapis.com/faq-on-the-feder...-unnatural-sex/

The news has just broken on a number of ongoing civil court cases that will impact all Malaysians, especially LGBTQ people.

Sexual intercourse against the order of nature under Section 28 of Shariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995 is being challenged for the first time at both the Federal Court and the High Court. Here is everything you need to know.

What are these cases about?



Queer Lapis reported on the 11 men (now 12) who were charged under Section 28 (read together with Section 52) for attempting to have sex. The men were arrested in November 2018 and have trials in the Syariah courts in late 2019. See here for an introduction to the case.

One of the men who pleaded not guilty to the charge has gone to civil courts to challenge these charges by filing two applications:

• A judicial review* at the High Court which argues that Section 28 is invalid for going against the human rights principles in the Federal Constitution, and;
• A petition** to the Federal Court, arguing that the Selangor state does not have the authority to enact Section 28.

*Leave for the judicial review was granted in January 2020. Leave means that the judge has established that the case is valid and they have allowed the full and substantive hearing to take place later. However, the judicial review action has been put on hold so that the petition could commence.

**Leave for the petition was granted on 14 May 2020 and the decision was publicised on 27 May 2020.

See here for excellent news coverage by Malay Mail and Malaysiakini.

Is there a summary of the outcome of the Federal Court hearing?

A summary of the leave hearing and the full decision made by the judge can be accessed here.

What are the problems with Section 28?

Here is are some infographics that show why Section 28 is unconstitutional and how it impacts our rights.




What are LGBTQ groups saying about this case?

Here is a snippet of the joint statement released by the LGBTIQ network in Malaysia regarding the case:

Spokespersons for the LGBTIQ+ Network, Thilaga Sulathireh, Numan Afifi, and Chong Yee Shan, stated, ‘Based on past experience, some may claim this is petition is against religion, but this is fundamentally a petition against injustice and inhumanity’, adding ‘We hope to discuss the erosion of boundaries between federal and state, privacy and community and reasons for the increasingly hysterical discrimination against LGBT persons.’

Although states do have the power to enact Muslim laws, they cannot when a law already exists — as in, Item 1 of the State List which allows for ‘creation and punishment of offences by persons professing the religion of Islam against precepts of that religion ‘except in regard to matters included in the Federal List’. Section 28 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) overlaps with Section 377 and 377A of the Penal Code, a Federal law. It is inconsistent with the Federal Constitution.

Read here for the full statement.

I want to join the LGBTQ community in fighting for their constitutional rights! How can I help?

1. Donate. Pelangi Campaign estimates that our community needs to raise at least RM200,000 for the entire duration of this legal battle. The money is needed for legal fees, financial support for the 11 men, and mental health support. Please PayPal or bank in donations to Pelangi Campaign at 8603744100 (CIMB) and email the slip to ask@pelangicampaign.org
2. Get involved. Fill up this form and we will contact you promptly on how you can help.
3. Share your story. We are collecting stories of LGBTQ experiences for research on how these laws affect us and to raise a case against discrimination. Fill up this form to share them with us confidentially.

Law is not one of my strengths. Is there anything I could read to help me learn more?

Here are some legal resources that Queer Lapis has prepared for your knowledge:

• A general overview of our laws
• A comprehensive list of laws that target LGBTQ people in Malaysia
• Our constitutional rights as LGBTQ Malaysians

External reading and helpful articles:

• Enhancing Syariah courts' powers
• Jurisdiction of State Authorities to punish offences against the precepts of Islam: A Constitutional Perspective
• Terengganu caning: Is it constitutional?
• Terengganu's lesbian sex offence unconstitutional, says lawyer
• Should homosexuality be a crime?

This post has been edited by internaldisputes: May 28 2020, 09:51 AM

As a gay myself, i agree. i believe sexuality is "borned", it is not a choice & it is fixed, just like how you can't change yourself from liking a Vagina to liking a Penis, same goes to us. It is impossible. However for a man that wanted to be a woman (vice versa), hmm.. I don't want to comment much (as it is sensitive), but you can still be a man & like other men. Changing gender is a choice.