KUALA LUMPUR: Fear and anger is growing in Malaysia's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community over more government calls on parents to “watch for gay tendencies.” Suzie, a Malaysian lesbian, told Bikyamasr.com that she is “fed up” with the ongoing government-sponsored campaigns against the LGBT community in the country. “We are a somewhat open society and this fear against lesbians and gays is so ridiculous,” she added. It comes on the heels of Deputy Education Minister Mohd Zarkashi warning parents and teachers to be educated on the “signs” of LGBT tendencies in youth. He argued that is was to “prevent youngsters from experimenting and making a choice of this unnatural practice as a lifestyle later on.” For Suzie and others, being gay has nothing to do with choice, and she cites science as fact. “How long are Malaysian politicians and government officials going to take before they understand that we are not choosing to be gay?” she asked. “In today's Malaysia, nobody would be stupid enough to choose to be gay or lesbian. It isn't a cool thing to do.” But Zarkashi said that as parents and teachers become aware of youth actions, “they would be able to take the necessary steps to help their children deal with it.” Suzie wonders what action that would be. “Are they going to send us somewhere and try to ‘change us' because that is funny.” Her anger, however, is strong, and as a woman, and lesbian, in Malaysia, she faces criticism and hardship on a daily basis, so the government's push to “crackdown” on LGBT youth is “going to hurt and cause more damage to young people than they realize.” Across the world, young LGBT are more at-risk to commit suicide, and Suzie and the LGBT community in Malaysia fear they could see a rise in youth killing themselves as a result of the government push. “We cannot deny the fact that Malaysian parents are still unable to talk to their children about LGBT. “This is why seminars are important to shed light on LGBT practices as this lifestyle is gaining momentum in Malaysia,” he said after launching a parenting seminar on LGBT. He said there were segments of society which were now more open to the practice and were fighting for LGBT's rights, claiming that this group had rights as they work and contribute to society. “They are talking about human rights but the problem with human rights, is that it does not take into consideration religious sensitivities and prohibitions,” he said. For the LGBT community in Malaysia, it is yet another attack on their rights and freedoms, but Suzie is optimistic about the future, saying on the ground, people are changing their attitudes. “People are changing how they deal with lesbians and gays and others, because once they get to know us, they don't have the fear that they thought they had,” she added.
