The natns where 's still crimal to be gay (as India marks an awkward anniversary) | ITV News

Contents:

• 5 SAFT PLAC FOR GAY TRAVELERS IN 2019 (AND THE MOST DANGERO)
• MALAYSIA’S HIGHT COURT STRIK DOWN STATE GAY SEX BAN
• GAY LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA | THE ESSENTIAL LGBT TRAVEL GUI!
• KUALA LUMPUR GAY TRAVEL
• WHAT'S LIKE TO BE LGBTQ MALAYSIA? LGBT ASIAN LBIAN UPLE | | © / SHUTTERSTOCK MICHELLE LEONG 21 AUGT 2018 COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT IN A UNTRY WHERE SODOMY IS STILL A CRIME AND NEWSPAPERS OFFER CHECKLISTS ON “HOW TO SPOT A GAY,” N BE TOO EASY TO GET LOST POLIL DRAMA. BUT PERHAPS THE MORE PERTENT QUTN IS — HOW DO THE AVERAGE LGBT PERSON EXPERIENCE LIVG MALAYSIA? IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE ANSWER, YOU PROBABLY HAVEN’T ASKED THE QUTN. VIEW ALL TRIPS “I AM THE L LGBT,” SAYS ONE 20 YEAR OLD, WHO PREFERS TO REMA ANONYMO. “IT SUCKS BEE WE GET DIRTY LOOKS EASILY.” TAKE A SP TO FD YOUR PERFECT SMALL-GROUP TRIP STATN PASSPORTS READY? YOUR NEXT STATN IS... VIEW TRIP SP GREECE ECUADOR MOROC ICELAND JAPAN CROATIA THAILAND EGYPT TURKEY BALI MEXI SOUTH AI SPA INDIA WHEN DATG HER GIRLIEND, THEY WERE UGHT BY THE POLICE FOR “HUGGG AND KISSG” ON NEW YEAR’S DAY AFTER THE FIREWORKS. “I N TELL YOU THAT BEG LGBT IS FELY DIFFICULT MALAYSIA. YOU N’T BE OPEN AT ALL.” HER GIRLIEND’S PARENTS ALSO FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RELATNSHIP, AND WERE NOT APPROVG OF . HER GIRLIEND END UP HAVG TO MOVE OUT. EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN TRAVERSE STLAND’S MOST SCENIC LANDSP, OM WT AST TO EAST, TRAVELLG BY RAIL VIEW TRIP “I HAVE NSIRED MOVG TO A DIFFERENT UNTRY THAT’S MORE FAIAR WH THE LGBT MUNY, PECIALLY WH LEGALIZED GAY MARRIAGE,” SHE SAYS. “AT LEAST WE DON’T HAVE TO AL WH [BEG NSIRED] HARAM.” SHE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. LEE* HAS ALREADY MOVED TO SGAPORE, A UNTRY WHERE SODOMY REMAS ILLEGAL, THOUGH THIS LAW IS RARELY ENFORCED. BEE A CULTURE TRIPPER! SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO SAVE UP TO 40% ON OUR UNIQUE TRIPS. SIGN UP SEE PRIVACY POLICY. IT IS STILL “NEARBY,” SAYS LEE, “BUT ’S OUT OF MALAYSIA’S REACH. EACH TIME I RETURN TO MALAYSIA FOR A BREAK, I NEED TO ACT ‘STRAIGHT.’ I NNOT ACT ON SIMPLE TUNS LIKE HOLDG HANDS OR EVEN PECKS WHOUT GETTG STARED AT OR HAVG MY PARTNER GET TLLED.” ANOTHER TERVIEWEE, JAY*, HAS BEEN ON THE RECEIVG END OF UNSOLICED JUDGMENTAL MENTS, CLUDG “GOD WON’T FIVE YOU,” “YOU WILL FELY END UP HELL,” AND “YOU HAVE MTED A GREAT S.” TO JAY, ’S THE OLR GENERATN THAT TENDS TO BE MORE NMNATORY. “MY DAD DON’T HAVE A POSIVE MDSET ABOUT THOSE WHOM WE LL PONDAN MALAYSIA. HE SAYS THGS LIKE THEY ARE NOT ‘MAN ENOUGH’ OR THEY HAVE SMALL PENIS.” NO THANKS TO THREATS OF JUDGEMENT, SOME HAVE PREFERRED TO LIVE THEIR LGBT LIV ALMOST VISIBLY. “PEOPLE DON’T KNOW I’M LGBT,” SAYS A 25 YEAR OLD, WHO ALSO PREFERS TO REMA ANONYMO. “THERE HAVE BEEN STANC WHEN PEOPLE SAY THGS LIKE ‘LGBT SHOULD BE PUNISHED AND PUL SAMPAI MATI (BEATEN TO ATH)’ ONT OF ME. MY ONLY REACTN EVEN UNTIL NOW IS TO BE LIKE, ‘OH, HMM.’ AND THEN SE. I’VE NEVER ACTUALLY STOOD UP FOR MYSELF, BEE I MIGHT LOSE MY JOB [ THE CIVIL SERVICE] OVER THIS.” AN LGBT PERSON MALAYSIA HAS TO FACE A LOT OF CHALLENG. “COMG OUT TO PEOPLE [WAS CHALLENGG],” SAYS LEE. “IMAGE GOG THROUGH THE SAME TERROR EACH TIME YOU WANT TO LET A PERSON KNOW WHO YOU TLY ARE. IMAGE HAVG TO GO UP TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND TELLG THEM YOU’RE STRAIGHT, JT THAT NOW, YOU’RE NOT STRAIGHT AND WHO YOU ARE IS NOT WILY ACCEPTED YET. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THE END RULT [WOULD] BE.” JAY AGRE. “WE’RE NO DIFFERENT OM OTHER PEOPLE. WE FEEL, WE LOVE, WE CRY, WE GET ANGRY, AND WE GET SAD. BUT IF THE MOST BASIC THG WHICH IS ACCEPTANCE ISN’T EVEN THERE, ’S LS LIKELY THAT WE WILL GET EQUAL RIGHTS.” *REAL NAM HAVE BEEN NCEALED TO PROTECT ANONYMY. VOLNIC ICELAND EPIC TRIP MEET OUR LOL INSIR HANNA HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE? 2 YEARS. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB? IT'S THE PERSONAL NTACT, THE PERSONAL EXPERIENC. I LOVE MEETG PEOPLE OM ALL OVER THE WORLD... I REALLY LIKE GETTG TO KNOW EVERYONE AND FEELG LIKE I'M TRAVELG WH A GROUP OF IENDS. WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST? I HAVE SO MANY PLAC ON MY LIST, BUT I WOULD REALLY LOBE TO GO TO AI. I NSIR MYSELF AN “ADVENTURE GIRL” AND AI FEELS LIKE THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE! EVERY CULTURE TRIP SMALL-GROUP ADVENTURE IS LED BY A LOL INSIR JT LIKE HANNA. SEE OUR CULTURE TRIPS KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
• MALAYSIAN MAN WS LANDMARK CHALLENGE AGAST MLIM GAY SEX BAN
• LONDON'S LANDMARK BUILDG DOTTED WH STRIP CLUBS, GAY VENU TO TURN TO MOSQUE
• THE NATNS WHERE 'S STILL CRIMAL TO BE GAY (AS INDIA MARKS AN AWKWARD ANNIVERSARY)

5 SAFT PLAC FOR GAY TRAVELERS IN 2019 (AND THE MOST DANGERO)

In an attempt to help terme the worst plac for gay travelers, the duo created the 2019 LGBTQ+ Danger Inx, rankg the world’s most dangero—and saft—untri for gay travelers. The journalists looked at the top 150 most-vised untri the world by the number of g tourists, then ranked them g eight factors, cludg laws agast gay relatnships, legal protectn agast discrimatn and more. “In 2018, India managed to annul Sectn 377, a Brish lonial-era law prohibg ‘unnatural acts, ’ orr to legalize nsensual gay sex, ” says Fergson, who pots out that ancient Indian lerature such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana have many referenc to LGBTQ+ hero cludg transgenr warrrs and two queens who ma love orr for one queen to get pregnant wh an heir for their kgdom.

“Long story short, this pots to the fact that was likely the Brish fluence that largely led to Indian homophobia the first place, ” she says.

MALAYSIA’S HIGHT COURT STRIK DOWN STATE GAY SEX BAN

“We found this to be a b ironic as the reason for many of the harsh homophobic laws untri throughout the world is largely leftover om laws created durg Brish le, ” says Fergson. Ci like Lisbon and Porto have the bt gay scen the untry and Portugal is hopg to host the 2022 Europri, the world's biggt event celebratg gay pri Europe. Wh an overall natnal attu that is relaxed and acceptg towards homosexualy, Belgium is known for havg a vibrant gay and lbian scene, particularly Bssels, ” says Fergson.

GAY LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA | THE ESSENTIAL LGBT TRAVEL GUI!

It was ranked so highly largely due to the extreme penalti for simply beg gay, which clu up to 14 years prison and the ath penalty stat unr Sharia law, ” says Fergson. “This oil-rich Middle Eastern untry enforc up to three years prison, floggg and the ath penalty unr Sharia law for any acts of homosexualy.

“In Yemen, the punishment for beg gay for both men and women is prison time and 100 lash, wh ath by stong for married men, ” says Fergson. “Sdi Arabia is another of the untri on our list which implements the ath penalty for nsensual homosexualy unr their terpretatn of Sharia law, ” says Fergson.

“In Tanzania, any homosexual acts rult 30 years to life prison, and there has been a recent ernment crackdown on LGBT activy wh the untry. “Iran ma #6 on the x, due part to s extreme punishments for homosexualy, which clu 100 lash for homosexual terurse or the ath penalty, and 31 lash for same-sex acts other than terurse, ” says Fergson.

KUALA LUMPUR GAY TRAVEL

“Publicly, homosexualy is a taboo topic, so LGBTQ+ travelers choosg to vis Sudan should proceed wh utn and rema discreet wh regards to their sexualy.

WHAT'S LIKE TO BE LGBTQ MALAYSIA? LGBT ASIAN LBIAN UPLE | | © / SHUTTERSTOCK MICHELLE LEONG 21 AUGT 2018 COPY LK FACEBOOK EMAIL TWTER PTERT IN A UNTRY WHERE SODOMY IS STILL A CRIME AND NEWSPAPERS OFFER CHECKLISTS ON “HOW TO SPOT A GAY,” N BE TOO EASY TO GET LOST POLIL DRAMA. BUT PERHAPS THE MORE PERTENT QUTN IS — HOW DO THE AVERAGE LGBT PERSON EXPERIENCE LIVG MALAYSIA? IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE ANSWER, YOU PROBABLY HAVEN’T ASKED THE QUTN. VIEW ALL TRIPS “I AM THE L LGBT,” SAYS ONE 20 YEAR OLD, WHO PREFERS TO REMA ANONYMO. “IT SUCKS BEE WE GET DIRTY LOOKS EASILY.” TAKE A SP TO FD YOUR PERFECT SMALL-GROUP TRIP STATN PASSPORTS READY? YOUR NEXT STATN IS... VIEW TRIP SP GREECE ECUADOR MOROC ICELAND JAPAN CROATIA THAILAND EGYPT TURKEY BALI MEXI SOUTH AI SPA INDIA WHEN DATG HER GIRLIEND, THEY WERE UGHT BY THE POLICE FOR “HUGGG AND KISSG” ON NEW YEAR’S DAY AFTER THE FIREWORKS. “I N TELL YOU THAT BEG LGBT IS FELY DIFFICULT MALAYSIA. YOU N’T BE OPEN AT ALL.” HER GIRLIEND’S PARENTS ALSO FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RELATNSHIP, AND WERE NOT APPROVG OF . HER GIRLIEND END UP HAVG TO MOVE OUT. EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN TRAVERSE STLAND’S MOST SCENIC LANDSP, OM WT AST TO EAST, TRAVELLG BY RAIL VIEW TRIP “I HAVE NSIRED MOVG TO A DIFFERENT UNTRY THAT’S MORE FAIAR WH THE LGBT MUNY, PECIALLY WH LEGALIZED GAY MARRIAGE,” SHE SAYS. “AT LEAST WE DON’T HAVE TO AL WH [BEG NSIRED] HARAM.” SHE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. LEE* HAS ALREADY MOVED TO SGAPORE, A UNTRY WHERE SODOMY REMAS ILLEGAL, THOUGH THIS LAW IS RARELY ENFORCED. BEE A CULTURE TRIPPER! SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER TO SAVE UP TO 40% ON OUR UNIQUE TRIPS. SIGN UP SEE PRIVACY POLICY. IT IS STILL “NEARBY,” SAYS LEE, “BUT ’S OUT OF MALAYSIA’S REACH. EACH TIME I RETURN TO MALAYSIA FOR A BREAK, I NEED TO ACT ‘STRAIGHT.’ I NNOT ACT ON SIMPLE TUNS LIKE HOLDG HANDS OR EVEN PECKS WHOUT GETTG STARED AT OR HAVG MY PARTNER GET TLLED.” ANOTHER TERVIEWEE, JAY*, HAS BEEN ON THE RECEIVG END OF UNSOLICED JUDGMENTAL MENTS, CLUDG “GOD WON’T FIVE YOU,” “YOU WILL FELY END UP HELL,” AND “YOU HAVE MTED A GREAT S.” TO JAY, ’S THE OLR GENERATN THAT TENDS TO BE MORE NMNATORY. “MY DAD DON’T HAVE A POSIVE MDSET ABOUT THOSE WHOM WE LL PONDAN MALAYSIA. HE SAYS THGS LIKE THEY ARE NOT ‘MAN ENOUGH’ OR THEY HAVE SMALL PENIS.” NO THANKS TO THREATS OF JUDGEMENT, SOME HAVE PREFERRED TO LIVE THEIR LGBT LIV ALMOST VISIBLY. “PEOPLE DON’T KNOW I’M LGBT,” SAYS A 25 YEAR OLD, WHO ALSO PREFERS TO REMA ANONYMO. “THERE HAVE BEEN STANC WHEN PEOPLE SAY THGS LIKE ‘LGBT SHOULD BE PUNISHED AND PUL SAMPAI MATI (BEATEN TO ATH)’ ONT OF ME. MY ONLY REACTN EVEN UNTIL NOW IS TO BE LIKE, ‘OH, HMM.’ AND THEN SE. I’VE NEVER ACTUALLY STOOD UP FOR MYSELF, BEE I MIGHT LOSE MY JOB [ THE CIVIL SERVICE] OVER THIS.” AN LGBT PERSON MALAYSIA HAS TO FACE A LOT OF CHALLENG. “COMG OUT TO PEOPLE [WAS CHALLENGG],” SAYS LEE. “IMAGE GOG THROUGH THE SAME TERROR EACH TIME YOU WANT TO LET A PERSON KNOW WHO YOU TLY ARE. IMAGE HAVG TO GO UP TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND TELLG THEM YOU’RE STRAIGHT, JT THAT NOW, YOU’RE NOT STRAIGHT AND WHO YOU ARE IS NOT WILY ACCEPTED YET. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THE END RULT [WOULD] BE.” JAY AGRE. “WE’RE NO DIFFERENT OM OTHER PEOPLE. WE FEEL, WE LOVE, WE CRY, WE GET ANGRY, AND WE GET SAD. BUT IF THE MOST BASIC THG WHICH IS ACCEPTANCE ISN’T EVEN THERE, ’S LS LIKELY THAT WE WILL GET EQUAL RIGHTS.” *REAL NAM HAVE BEEN NCEALED TO PROTECT ANONYMY. VOLNIC ICELAND EPIC TRIP MEET OUR LOL INSIR HANNA HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE? 2 YEARS. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB? IT'S THE PERSONAL NTACT, THE PERSONAL EXPERIENC. I LOVE MEETG PEOPLE OM ALL OVER THE WORLD... I REALLY LIKE GETTG TO KNOW EVERYONE AND FEELG LIKE I'M TRAVELG WH A GROUP OF IENDS. WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST? I HAVE SO MANY PLAC ON MY LIST, BUT I WOULD REALLY LOBE TO GO TO AI. I NSIR MYSELF AN “ADVENTURE GIRL” AND AI FEELS LIKE THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE! EVERY CULTURE TRIP SMALL-GROUP ADVENTURE IS LED BY A LOL INSIR JT LIKE HANNA. SEE OUR CULTURE TRIPS KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

“Historilly, Barbados and some other Caribbean islands have had poor anti-LGBTQ+ legislatn and practic, largely left over om the Brish occupatn which put the laws place and rerced anti-gay attus. Unfortunately, imposed punishment for homosexualy is severe and the existence of gay people Malaysia was nied by their tourism mister as recently as March 2019, ” says Fergson. That said, the LGBTQ+ muny is margalized this untry and there are heavy nsequenc for beg homosexual, which clu seven years to life prison for any same-sex act, ” says Fergson.

Unfortunately, thgs may soon be gettg even worse for the LGBTQ+ muny, as the Ugandan ernment has recently lled to retroduce an anti-homosexualy bill, which would clu the ath penalty for same-sex acts, the midst of the recent murr of a gay Ugandan activist. “In the Paltian terrori of Gaza and the Wt Bank, the anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment is taken very serly, wh homosexual acts rultg up to 10 years prison, ” says Fergson.

MALAYSIAN MAN WS LANDMARK CHALLENGE AGAST MLIM GAY SEX BAN

“Groups advotg for LGBTQ+ rights are threatened by the erng thori Palte, who nsir homosexualy to be ‘a blow to, and vlatn of, the ials and valu of Paltian society. Currently, Kenyan law stat that same-sex terurse between mal rults 14 years prison, while all other homosexual acts between mal are punished wh five years imprisonment, ” says Fergson. In fact, Jamai was lled ‘the most homophobic place on Earth’ by Time magaze 2006 and LGBTQ+ people are sadly still the victims of homophobic vlence today.

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. 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.

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. 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. 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!

LONDON'S LANDMARK BUILDG DOTTED WH STRIP CLUBS, GAY VENU TO TURN TO MOSQUE

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. While there might be some great nightlife optns, there are none that are publilly for the gay muny, and is val to be sensible and discrete, somethg which is repeated throughout this gui for a good reason.

In a untry where homosexualy is to all tents and purpos illegal, n be difficult to learn more about the gay muny and to get to know like-md lols. In gay-iendly bars hubs like KL and Penang ’s easy enough to get talkg to people, but bee members of the LGBT muny are rarely out and have to disguise themselv, uld often be difficult to know who to approach. Gay men e hook-up apps like Grdr, Scff, and Tdr but onle censorship is creasgly a problem, so a secure VPN before gog is strongly remend orr to protect privacy and rema anonymo.

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. Tucked away off the Eastern ast of Malaysia near Thailand, Langkawi is more liberal and relaxed than the rt of Malaysia, as gay travelers will soon notice – and is probably a large reason why Gay Langkawi is popular wh LGBT travelers.

THE NATNS WHERE 'S STILL CRIMAL TO BE GAY (AS INDIA MARKS AN AWKWARD ANNIVERSARY)

You will be weled almost everywhere you go: bars, clubs, and rtrants and will surely have no issu any of the upsle rorts; however, jt be aware you will not fd a gay scene anywhere near as bizarre as that Kuala Lumpur, as crazy as Ho Chi Mh Cy or as open and hedonistic as nearby Phet if that is your ma ncern. Many Malaysians still hold nservative attus to any display of public affectn – straight or gay – although people here are surprisgly open-md, pecially more trendy, upsle areas.

As a general le, what gay people do their own time Malaysia is largely only an issue if you are a Malaysian polician or want to watch Bety & The Beast.

Sadly the fluence of nservative Islam on mastream polics and culture Malaysia is currently creasg – none of which should affect your average gay traveler, however. So e to Gay Langkawi for the luxur rorts, dive sunsets, duty-ee shoppg, and mouth-waterg cktails – jt don’t expect to be met wh rabow flags or out-and-proud gay life.