Malaysians to LGBTQ: We Care About You, Now Repent

Homophobia without homophobes & radicalizing religion

Allow me to set the stage. October was drawing nearer and after a few quiet months in the pandemic we were seeing an alarming spike in Covid-19 cases. Things weren’t looking good for a small country in SEA. In a bid to spread some love, a local LGBTQ+ campaign account introduced the #tetapbangga (#stillproud) hashtag on twitter.

It was meant to help local queer people — especially Muslims, celebrate their authentic selves despite living in a world that tells them they are wrong just for existing.

It was beautiful. There were stories of coming out, support from allies, resources for the queer community and even local queer artists promoting their work under the hashtag. It was all rainbows (pardon the pun) and sunshine until the hashtag started trending. Turns out, not everyone was so proud of equality.

In no time the hashtag #tetapsalah (#stillwrong) was trending in retaliation. Now here is where the story gets interesting.

I would like to include a *TRIGGER WARNING* before we go any further because of some of the tweets I will be sharing.

Hate Hate & More Hate

I remember clicking onto the #stillwrong hashtag expecting to find it filled with hate tweets — they were there but surprisingly low in volume compared to the “saviorism” style tweets. Oh how my blood boiled. So much in fact that it’s taken me a month to write this piece.

Hate I can handle. Hate, I understand. As someone who has never fit into the typical definition of “normal”, I’ve dealt with my fair share of hate. And so I know how to answer the type of hate you see in the tweets below.

These tweets are overt in their homophobia. It draws a line. There is no point in reasoning with them because all they want to do is hate. They are misinformed and proud of it.

Don’t get me wrong. This type of hate breeds hate and encourages violence. It’s dangerous. The content of these tweets are disturbing and I would love to live in a world where they didn’t exist. But alas it is not a perfect world and hate is often louder than compassion.

No Homophobes Here

But I don’t want to talk about overt homophobia today. I want to discuss the tweets below:

*Sorry for the broken English & mix of Malay language in the screenshots. English isn’t our first language here.

Allow me to summaries what the tweets above are saying:

Malaysia is an Islamic state and as such should adhere to Islamic practices which prohibits the existence of the LGBTQ+ community. However, everyone makes mistakes and you will be forgiven if you see the error of your ways and I am here to help!

Let’s dig into that, shall we?

Religion as a weapon

Everyone’s favorite argument against the queer community? Religion. Why? Because it’s hard to dismantle a religious argument, even if unfounded, for fear of sounding blasphemous which is a punishable offence under the penal code in Malaysia.

Malaysia is a Muslim majority country and Islam is the only religion mentioned in the federal constitution. On the other hand, freedom of religion is also a part of the constitution.

Therefore, by definition of its own laws, Malaysia is not a secular state nor is it an Islamic state. And yes, it is all very confusing.

Onto acceptance in Islam. There is a story in the Quran about the Prophet Lut and his people or Sodom and Gomorrah as it is known in biblical scripture.

The story tells of Prophet Lut warning men of their ‘immorality’ for desiring men instead of women. These men then try to drive Prophet Lut and his family out of their cities and even attempt to sexually abuse the angels from heaven who were in the cities disguised as men. As a result, God brought down a natural disaster that wipes out the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, only saving Prophet Lut and a few believers.

I know. That’s a lot to unpack. But leaves room for questions, doesn’t it? For one, who is to say the wrath of God was for homosexuality? Couldn’t it be because they tried to expel a Prophet from their city? Or perhaps the attempted sexual abuse of angels was the cause.

Plus, the story makes no mention of lesbians or the transgender community. So, does religion simply forbid gay relations and no other? If so, why? Are all genders accepted in Islam and only sexuality up for debate?

Most sins mentioned in religious scripture comes with a corresponding punishment, yet no earthly punishment for homosexuality is mentioned.

SO MANY QUESTIONS.

Which is my point exactly. There are so many questions, which means the story can be interpreted a million different ways (and it has been!) to fit a million different narratives.

Religion is subjective and it is personal.

Personally, I don’t believe the queer community is going to burn in hell for being queer. Another Muslim, who interprets the story differently may find that they will. Which is okay too.

Everyone is entitled to their beliefs and no one is trying to take it away from them.

What is not okay though is to make it sound like every Muslim shares the same view and that this is the only narrative Islam preaches. Because Islam also preaches love, acceptance and peace. And no, telling the queer community you are here to help them ‘repent’ is not love, acceptance or peace. More on that later.

Not only are you misrepresenting the religion, you are also disseminating false information that is harmful for the religion you claim to love so dearly. There are countless Muslims who don’t believe Prophet Lut’s story to be a warning against homophobia. Yet, they live with the consequence of the shadow your narrow world-view casts on their entire religion.

Because once again, your hate is louder than their acceptance. But the reality of the matter is that the Quran never explicitly states homosexuality to be a sin and so it was always up for interpretation.

And this may be shocking, but “interpretation” is just a fancy way of saying “I guess…”.

You say Malaysia is an Islamic state and therefore cannot allow the existence of the LGBTQ+ community to be considered normative? Well, I say as Muslims it is your duty to practice acceptance, love and peace towards the queer community.

Pat yourself on the back

Do me a favor and read those tweets again. What jumps out? Here is what I see:

The enormous egos of people who believe they are holier-than-thou and are absolute saints for putting their disdain aside in order to reach out a pious hand to a fellow peer who has lost their way and stumbled into a terrible sin.

Ah, the smell of a hero complex.

The funniest part of writing this piece is the absolute confusion people in those tweets would feel if they read this. Because they genuinely want to help solve the affliction known as being queer. They want to help you find God once again. Because God forbid you have faith as a lesbian.

If you guys are reading this, I would like to introduce you to the word “microaggression”. Or “covert homophobia” if you prefer. And if you’re reading this to gain a better understanding, I applaud you. If you’ve read this far so you can tweet about how I’m leading souls to hell with me — make sure you tag me!

When you tell queer people that it is okay to be themselves as long as they aren’t proud of who they are, you are telling them their authentic selves are wrong. You are telling someone their very existence is wrong until they change to fit you definition of normative.

Then, you take it a step further and tell them you can help them change and make the right choice. Believe me, none of them woke up one day and went, “Oh, I know what would keep life interesting…living life as an outsider and constant fear for my safety!”

And sure Kevin, all the queer community needed was for you to come and show them the error of their ways. Would you look at that — you cured homosexuality! I’m sure a conservative somewhere wants to kiss you (no homo though).

On a more serious note, social media is filled with vulnerable teens. Teens that are exploring their identities and are terrified of discovering they are not what is viewed as normative. Who will then look for answers or even harmful solutions — like the conversions Kevin is so generously offering.

While we’re on the subject, who convinced Kevin that the LGBTQ+ community is trying to change their sexual and/or gender identities to the perceived default? Why is there such conviction that being queer is an affliction?

Turns out…

It’s always political

Earlier in this piece I mentioned the fear of speaking out against anything that has religious connotation in a conservative country. If you’ve never lived in such a country, the feeling is hard to describe. It’s almost in the air we breathe.

My moms already asked at least three times if I’m absolutely sure I want to publish this. Truth is, I’m not. I’m scared. Because I live in a world where laws are designed to fail those who question the status quo. Yet as a Muslim, I occupy a more privileged space than my non-Muslim peers who ask the same questions. Except they have to question in silence whereas I may thread the line — my religion a shield from the worst of consequences. I hope.

Among tweets about how homosexuality is a sin and the saviorism trope, you would find tweets that exclaimed in all caps that, “THIS IS NOT AMERICA” or how the West has corrupted our values.

There is strong sentiment across many Asian nations that the West is out to destroy our traditions and culture. And some of the ways they are allegedly doing that? Feminism, queer rights, promoting atheism etc…

So you see, rejecting the queer community isn’t just about segregating them. It is about rejecting the Western world and the subsequent erosion of our peoples culture. Or, that is what political propaganda would lead you believe.

Politicians here have mastered the art of weaving this fight against the West into their political campaigns. They’ve made it personal. A matter of your fundamental beliefs and your children’s eternal souls. They tell you if the LGBTQ+ community is normalized, we will face the same Devine punishment as Prophet Lut’s people.

The more aggressive of us turn violent, the keyboard warriors spread their hate on twitter and the “saints” mount their white horses and offer conversions and redemption.

End Scene

Everyday the world gets more progressive. But everyday it is getting easier to spread hate an misinformation as well. Why did it take me so long to write this piece? Because even now, I’ve only typed out a silver of my opinions on the matter and I am as frustrated as you are.

For now, the best we can do is share stories like this one in hopes of starting meaningful discourse that may one day drive the change we so long to see.