MALAYSIA: COURT RULES LAW BANNING GAY SEX UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Contents:

• MALAYSIA’S HIGHT COURT STRIK DOWN STATE GAY SEX BAN
• MALAYSIA: COURT RULES LAW BANNING GAY SEX UNCONSTITUTIONAL
• MALAYSIAN MAN WS LANDMARK CHALLENGE AGAST MLIM GAY SEX BAN

MALAYSIA’S HIGHT COURT STRIK DOWN STATE GAY SEX BAN

The se aris om a 2018 raid on a private rince Selangor, which state relig enforcement officials arrted 11 men on charg of “attemptg” gay sex, unr sectn 28 of Selangor’s Syariah (Sharia, or Islamic law) crimal enactment. Malaysia’s feral laws are no more iendly to lbian, gay, bisexual, and transgenr (LGBT) people than s state laws. All members of the gay muny should be able to travel where they want and enjoy the treasur Malaysia has to offer, but is important to be aware of the legal and social suatn before travelg.

Unr a Brish Empire lonial-era law, sodomy (and oral sex) is illegal, for both homosexual and heterosexual upl. The rhetoric of many policians is very anti-homosexualy.

2013 rearch rried out by the Pew Rearch Center showed ltle acceptance om the Malaysian populatn towards homosexualy: 86% believed should not be accepted by society. Universi have sanctned gay nversn ‘ntts’ which clu creatg posters to try and ‘cure’ LGBT people. This is symbolic of a very clear feelg Malaysia that beg gay is not normal and agast the teachgs of the Quran.

MALAYSIA: COURT RULES LAW BANNING GAY SEX UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Siarly, gay characters are only allowed to appear films and other media if they eher die or repent. Recently, a ernment mister orred the removal of photographs of gay people om an exhibn Penang, claimg they promoted LGBT rights, which is agast the state ernment policy.

MALAYSIAN MAN WS LANDMARK CHALLENGE AGAST MLIM GAY SEX BAN

So What Do This Mean For Gay Travelers?

Dpe all of this negative prs, Malaysia n still be a fun and welg place for gay travelers.

Many reports beg surprised by the active gay scene ci like Penang and Kuala Lumpur and many areas lols are iendly. However, is important to be aware that technilly homosexualy is illegal and therefore to be nsc of behavr public plac. As a smopolan and multicultural cy, Kuala Lumpur has veloped a thrivg gay scene – jt exists behd closed doors for the most part.

You won’t fd any crazy parti like Bangkok or the openns of islands Thailand, but outright persecutn is rare, and ’s not pletely unheard of to see gay upl out and about; there jt won’t be any public displays of affectn. Penang Island is a place wh a growg gay scene, due large part to s thrivg tech and arts scen.

The suatn is siar idyllic Langkawi, which is popular wh gay travelers bee of s more liberal attus and chilled nightlife – as well as s stunng beach! Malaysia do not offer much the way of gay-iendly hotels, unsurprisgly. Bookg at ternatnal, upsle hotels is always a safe bet; is highly unlikely gay travelers will n to any problems here, and there are plenty to choose om, whether Kuala Lumpur or beachsi Penang.

KL has some gay-iendly hostels or budget hotels, as do Penang, Melaka, and Langkawi.

What gay travelers won’t fd, however, is much (if anythg) the way of events, venu or activi aimed at the gay muny.