As thousands of Malaysians marched in a massive parade at Merdeka (Freedom) Square on Sunday to celebrate the country's 51 years of independence from Britain, the LGBT community created its own slice of history with its first ever sexuality rights festival held across the Klang River at Central Market Annexe.
The festival comprised film screenings, talks, workshops and the closing event Malaysian Artistes for Diversity which featured Nikki, a former Malaysian Idol contestant; Shanon Shah, an award winning singer; and Rafidah, a popular TV show host.
At the first forum on Saturday were four panelists: Sivarasa, Member of Parliament for Subang and a vice-president of the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party); Dr Wan Halim Othman, a clinical sociologist; Nisha, a transsexual social worker with PT Foundation; and academic Dr Teh Yik Koon, a researcher and author of The Mak Nyahs: Malaysian Male to Female Transsexuals.
Transsexuals in Malaysia face harassment and/or even police brutality as cross-dressing is punishable under Islamic laws or the Minor Offences Act under the Penal Code for non-Muslims. In July 2007, a male-to-female transsexual was so severely beaten by Malacca Religious Affairs Department (Jaim) enforcement officers that she required a hernia operation.
Dr Teh further highlighted that while Malaysia has disallowed Muslims from having gender realignment surgery since 1983 and post-op transsexuals including non-Muslims are unable to have their new gender reflected in their identification documents, Islamic countries such as Iran and Egypt permit gender realignment surgery and legally recognise post-op transsexuals who are permitted to marry someone of the opposite sex.
Reports from Iran have however suggested that sex change operations have been prescribed as a "cure" for effeminate gay men as homosexuality is punishable by lashings, imprisonment and/or execution.
Speaking to a crowd of about 100 on Sunday was historian Dr Farish A Noor who highlighted the Panji Tales, a collection of ancient mythical Javanese tales which incorporate themes of gender bending and cinta sejenis (meaning same-sex love in Malay).
Referencing Malaysia's colonial-era Section 377 which prohibits "unnatural" sex as well as commonly used refrains that homosexuality is a western import, Dr Farish appealed to the audience to be acquainted with the sexual geography of pre-Islamic Southeast Asia as it is "evidence of what we today term 'alternative' lifestyles which was then perfectly normal."
The prominent political scientist and human rights activist further cited anatomically correct and sexually explicit stone carvings which prominently depict male genitalia at the Candi Sukuh and Candi Ceto temples in Central Java which are believed to have been built in the 15th century.
"The sad thing is that the Panji stories depicting much of social life in much of Southeast Asia at that time have been completely forgotten (today)... Like the Kama Sutra, its Southeast Asian cousin Serat Centini is a text about sexual conduct which normalises sexual and emotional attraction that go beyond the simple male-female dichotomy. The Serat Centini openly talks about the conduct of same-sex love and attraction. And if all these stories right up to the 15th century - the idea of same-sex attraction was seen as the norm - what is the ultimate moral tale of the Hikayat Panji Semirang, is that love overcomes everything else. The entire quest of Panji Semirang is to consummate this love."
Although Seksualiti Merdeka might be construed to be somewhat provocative, co-organiser and Arts Programme Director of The Annexe Pang Khee Teik says its aim is mainly to empower the community. "There are those of us who long to be a part of the nation's Independence celebration, even if the nation has persistently persecuted, ignored and forced us into the closets."
As same-sex relations are forbidden under both Shariah (Islamic) laws and the Penal Code, he says many gays and lesbians mistakenly believe that it is against the law to be gay when the law "simply targets the sexual acts and not the identity."
Having read his gay stories in public over the last few years without any ramifications, he says he believes that the perception of persecution "can be countered with an increase in the amount of positive role models and stories that we put out there."
The three-day also included a forum on sexual diversity in Malaysia by Dr Sharon Bong on sexuality, faith and family relations; Benjamin McKay on cruising in malls in the Malaysian capital and Wong Yuen Mei who highlighted the pengkids (Malay vernacular to mean masculine lesbian) culture; a lecture on homophobia by Singaporean Anj Ho; a "Heartbreakers Anonymous" storytelling session; an interactive workshop on sexuality; film screenings and music performances.
Anyone wanting to participate or help organise next year's events can join the the Seksualiti Merdeka Yahoo group or Facebook group (see related links).
Listen to an excerpt of Dr Farish A Noor's talk titled "From Panji To The Present ~ A short history of sexuality in Malaysia and South East Asia" (16mins, 7.4 MB)
读者回应
Things were said, people with different views had their say , peopled came with open minds and learned, people were inspired and people got support from strangers who ended up being friends. I was a voluteer for this event and it insipred me to see people from all walks of life, regardless of sexual orientation, race or believes helping one another and just being there for one another. If that did't show how much a success this event was, i don't know what is.
Looking forward to next year and many more events such like this which empowers the LGBT community to understand and know that we should not label ourselves as LGBT but instead know that we are just being Human.
"As same-sex relations are forbidden under both Shariah (Islamic) laws and the Penal Code, he says many gays and lesbians mistakenly believe that it is against the law to be gay when the law simply targets the sexual acts and not the identity."
It is good to educate people on the LGBT world, and with the help of artists such as Nikki (go girl!) is phenomenal to even touch on subjects that were considered taboo!
ferrond_c@hotmail.com
=)
I hope our Southern brothers and sisters enjoyed themselves up here in KL. And yes, the Seksualiti Merdeka events were a success.
How cruel the product of religious intolerance and ignorance in Iran - to try to cure a feminine gay man by giving him an extra hole! That makes as much sense as the Ayatollah Khomeini's statement that being a bottom is against Shariah - but not being a top.
Not sure about the Syariah law in Malaysia, but what we can see now in Malaysia, a top (like Anwar) can be charged for sodomy and a bottom (like Saiful being sodomized for 8 times as what he claims) can get away and turn his back to sue the top.
Hmm... may be its good time to be a powered bottom then...
GRS: Acronym for Gender Reassignment Surgery. Sometimes referred to pejoratively as the "Sex-Change Operation", it is also, equally inaccurately known as SRS (Sex Reassignment Surgery). A more respectful and medically correct term would be Gender Reconciliation or Gender Realignment Surgery
- TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY TERMINOLOGY
http://transactiveonline.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=15&Itemid=29
Here's my two cents: it's hard to draw a line between sexuality and religion and it's apparent here in Malaysia where Islam is supposedly the official religion and has its whole body emerged into our political system. The question on everyone's mind is how are we able to address issues like this when religion is part and parcel of what makes our governmental body.
Despite that, Seksualiti Merdeka is a big step towards diversity in Malaysia and we should continue this long journey in hope for our voices to be heard.
Kudos overall for an incredibly inspiring weekend! It was full of new learnings, new friends and a blossoming solidarity of Malaysian PLU. See you all at the next one!
Seems like there's hope living as a PLU in Malaysia in my future instead of moving abroad. Too soon to say, but progress is still progress :) Kudos to the organizers!
MY GOD! Where was I???
SOB SOB SOB!!!
I missed this?!
I am so proud of you guys! If only I knew I would be there to support you guys!
请先登入再使用此功能。