Today, as Americans cast their votes for the 44th American president, Californians will be casting another historic ballot: a YES or NO on Proposition 8

What is Poposition 8?

In 2000, 61% of Californian voters apporved Proposition 22, which added a section to the Californian Family Code to formally define marriage as being a woman and a man. In May 2008, the Californian Surpreme Court, by a 403 majority, ruled that the statue enacted by proposition 8 and other statues which limit marriage to that between a man and a woman  had violated the equal protecion clause of the Californian state institutition. Since May 2008, an estimated 16,000 same-sex couples have registered their marriages.

The right to marriage for all couples, including same-sex couples, however, may not live long. In June 2008, Proposition 8, which will eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry, qualified for the November general elections.  this means that Californians will get to decide today whether they want to overturn the Californian Surpreme Courts’  decision and restore the previous definition of marriage.

Why NO on Proposition 8?

(click on the image to access www.NoOnProp8.com)

Proposition 8 eliminates fundamental rights.

Proposition 8 discriminates against gays, lesbians and bisexuals.

Proposition 8 denies the right of two loving, committed individuals to marry each other.

Proposition 8 resurrects the ”separate but equal” alibi to justify discriminatory laws.

Proposition 8 prescribes a set of laws and rights for one group, and a set for another.

Proposition is simply wrong and unfair.

If you have friends and/or relatives in California, please tell them to vote NO on Proposition 8. Tell them now.

According to The Star (24 October 2008), the National Fatwa Council has a fatwa issued against tomboyism -

KOTA BARU: The National Fatwa Council has ruled that tomboyism, where a girl behaves or dresses in a boyish manner, is forbidden in Islam.

Its chairman Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin said the decision was prompted by recent developments as there had been cases of young women inclined to behave like men and indulging in homosexuality.

Parents must stop their children from indulging in disruptive activities that are against Islamic teachings, he told reporters here yesterday. - Bernama

According to The Associated Press:

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysia’s main body of Islamic clerics has issued an edict banning tomboys in the Muslim-majority country, ruling that girls who act like boys violate the tenets of Islam, an official said Friday.

The National Fatwa Council forbade the practice of girls behaving or dressing like boys during a meeting Thursday in northern Malaysia, said Harussani Idris Zakaria, the mufti of northern Perak state, who attended the gathering.

Harussani said an increasing number of Malaysian girls behave like tomboys, and that some of them engage in homosexuality. Homosexuality is not explicitly banned in Malaysia, but it is effectively illegal under a law that prohibits sex acts “against the order of nature.”

Harussani said the council’s ruling was not legally binding because it has not been passed into law, but that tomboys should be banned because their actions are immoral.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a law or not. When it’s wrong, it’s wrong. It is a sin,” Harussani told The Associated Press. “Tomboy (behavior) is forbidden in Islam.”

Under the edict, girls are forbidden to sport short hair and dress, walk and act like boys, Harussani said. Boys should also not act like girls, he said.

“They must respect God. God created them as boys, they must behave like boys. God created them as girls, they must act like girls,” he said.

Council chairman Abdul Shukor Husin said the ruling was prompted by recent cases of young women behaving like men and indulging in homosexuality, according to the national news agency Bernama. He did not elaborate.

Malaysian media have reported on recent incidents of school bullying among girls, which have been caught on film and circulated on the Internet. In one film, some girls are seen beating up another girl in a bathroom.

A well-known Malaysian Muslim actress caused an uproar last year when she shaved her head bald for a film. Harussani and other muftis urged Muslims not to watch the movie, arguing that the actress had violated Islam by making herself look like a man.

“Muallaf,” or “the convert,” is scheduled for release in Singapore next month, but no date has been set for its release in Malaysia.

Muslims make up some 60 percent of Malaysia’s 27 million people, and are subject to Islamic laws and the council’s edicts, even if the rulings have not been enshrined in national or Shariah law.

It was not immediately clear what kind of punishment awaited those who violate the tomboy edict, or “fatwa.” Malays generally follow the council’s “fatwas” out of deference, but violators rarely get into trouble unless the edict is incorporated into national or Shariah law.

From The Associated Press as well:

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — One of Malaysia’s highest Islamic bodies has banned females from dressing or behaving like men and engaging in lesbian sex, saying it was forbidden by the religion.

The National Fatwa Council late Thursday issued its ruling following a two-day meeting that discussed recent cases of young women apparently behaving like men and exhibiting homosexual tendencies, state news agency Bernama reported.

Council chairman Abdul Shukor Husin told Bernama many young women admired the way men dress, behave and socialise, violating human nature and denying their femininity.

“It is unacceptable to see women who love the male lifestyle including dressing in the clothes men wear,” Abdul Shukor was quoted as saying.

“(Masculine behaviour) becomes clearer when they start to have sex with someone of the same gender, that is woman and woman,” he said.

“In view of this, the National Fatwa Council which met today have decided and taken the stand that such acts are forbidden and banned,” he said.

Male homosexuality, considered against the order of nature, is illegal in Malaysia but lawyers say female homosexuality is technically permissible as there are no provisions for it under the law.

The Fatwa Council does not have jurisdiction in civil law, but the ruling appears to be an attempt to push female homosexuality towards illegality.

Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, where more than 60 percent of its 27 million people are Muslim Malays who practice a conservative brand of the religion.

A fatwa is religious opinion on Islamic Law issued by a recognised Islamic scholar/organization, in line with relevant legal proofs and based on interpretations of Quranic verses and hadiths. For more information on how fatwas are processed by the National Fatwa Council in Malaysia, please see the e-Fatwa portal.

Tilted World says: We believe that no one, not even the state or any religious institution, has the right to decide how an individual should manage his/her own body and persona, or regulate mutually consensual acts, as long as it does not interfere with the well-being of others. We strongly disagree with the National Fatwa Council’s action to decree an edict to regulate the dressing/mannerisms of our women, and relationships between consenting adults.

Here are a few articles/letters pertaining to this issue:

Fatwa dalam Pembangunan Masyarakat, by Shanon Shah, The Nut Graph (3rd November)

Fatwa on Football? by G.Krishnan, Malaysia Today (30th October)

Tomboys, Yoga…What Next? by Marina Mahathir, (29th October)

Just Live and Let Live, by Hafiz Noor Shams, Malaysia Today (28th October)

Tha National Fatwa Council: “Tomboyism” Not allowed, KLue Blog, (24th October)

I may be spending too much time on Youtube, I know. I do love the shows available there though, from geek haven The Guild, to wacky Japanese talent shows. The sheer volume of content online means you can find queer-friendly content (or plenty more videos not related to sexuality). 

Right now, I have two videos I find hilarious, about people who are adamantly not gay.

This is a song by Ukulady, called “If I was gay”, written specially for (her Myspace friend?) Bridget McManus on her show. I think plenty of lesbians have been through some of these (or will be!) and can laugh at the cliches that get thrown in here.

If I was gay I’d totally make out with you

I’d touch your cooter and your boobies through your clothes

By the second date I might go below your skirt

But first we’d show each other photos of our cats

We’ll get matching tribal tattoos on our backs

And you’ll show me how to strap on that equipment

And we’ll giggle about my late gay development

(want to hear that second verse?)

 

If I was gay I’d totally make out with you

I’d make you mixed cds and text you all the time

And we’ll drink expensive wine and I’ll move in within a week

And all the lesbians will warn you that I’m straight

But we’ll ignore them because the sex will be great

And we’ll argue about adoption or the turkey baster

And my gay men will be so jealous

And my boyfriend will want to watch us 

 

If I was gay I’d totally make out with you

But since I’m not let’s just be best girlfriends

And I’ll hold your hair back when you barf on New Years Eve

And I’ll set you up with dykes that I keep up my sleeve

And there’ll always be a bit of sexual tension

Cause both of us love the extra attention

(cause we’re comedy whores)

Extra bolded sentences are from me, yes. *whistles*.

The next one is a series on Youtube. It’s brought to you by C Spot (also responsible for the awesome Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine show. I’ve just started watching it, so I can’t comment too much - this is what the website says:

Gaytown - great for gays, sucks for Owen. As a straight man living in a town where gay is normal, how can Owen fit in? He’s quest for acceptance begins in this first episode

Looks promising so far. To produce content like this, and the Ukulady’s song, you need a fair bit of exposure to some of the queer community’s quirks (and I talk as if we’re so different and share One Queer Hive Mind, my bad, I know).

Can you see why I’m on Youtube too much?

[ I may be developing a little, tiny, itty bitty, VERY HUGE crush on Bridget McManus :") ]

At approximately 9pm, the documentary by Poh Si Teng entitled “Pecah Lobang”, was finally aired at the studio within the Annexe Gallery at Central Market, during the Freedom Film Fest last Saturday. Touching mostly on the life and times of Muslim transsexual sex workers at the Chow Kit area, it drawn a crowd of 200 plus people inside. Besides the cast and crew of the documentary, notable attendees include members of the Legal Aids Centre, the PT Foundation crew including trans activist Ms Sulatri Ariffin and a surprise visitor who is a renowned transsexual advocate from Singapore, Ms Leona Lo.

The documentary as we have known, focused on the life of transsexual and sex worker Natasha, and other transsexuals’ turbulent living environment. The failed job hunts, family rejection and society’s ill-treatment of transsexuals was implied within the documentary as been caused by the ban on sex change surgeries in the early 1980’s upon the release of a “fatwa”. It displayed several verses from the Quran that were used to condemn transsexuals, and several profiled cases of transsexual discrimination. It also featured thoughts from several notable personalities including Dr Teh Yik Koon and Ms Sulastri Ariffin.

While the whole documentary was well meant to highlight the plight of the transsexual sex workers of Chow Kit, I felt I was watching somewhat a docu-movie prequel to the movie “Bukak Api”, which also outlined the problems faced by the transsexual sex workers community. “Pecah Lobang” went straight into several strong comments in defense of transsexuals and their lives, to touching overtures of statements that seemed to be asking for empathy from the audience. And it sadly played to stereotypes.

For instance, the continuous notion replayed throughout this documentary (it may be accidental) that transsexuals are prone to sex work, and on the streets even. It takes for granted that there is a community of transsexual sex workers that are not plying their trade on the streets, but as call girls in international escort websites, where the big cash is from the expats and foreign visitors. Also, there was a total lack of healthy transsexual role models shown, which would have placed a balanced positive view on transsexuals.

Also missing, was the lack of clarity on what is a transsexual with a transvestite, both under the umbrella term of transgender, as a segment focused on the recent case of transgenders arrested in Kelantan who were involved at a beauty pageant. I find it very unfortunate that the causes of transsexuality, from the chromosomal, biological and psychological circumstances especially recent research on the neuron count within limbic nucleus of the brain of transsexuals, were never mentioned. Instead the documentary presented viewers with the overused “they are human beings, they do not choose this life” mantra.

As for the reference of the religion of Islam used to create an atmosphere of rejection towards transsexuals, I respectfully disagree to some level. It is the cultural upbringing of the members of society that failed to distinguish gender from sex, along with the media toying with mak nyahs as jokes and comedy, as was seen in TV shows such as “Scenario”. Last month, “Gerak Khas” on RTM depicted transsexuals as sexed-up, campy and ill-mannered, while being a sex workers and also a drug pushers. It is these misrepresentations by the media that causes untrained minds to validate their prejudices.

And it is by these ill-founded dogmas that people resort to use religion as justifications for their bigotry against transsexuals and this not only includes Islam, but also Christianity. “Pecah Lobang” highlights only a fragment of the community; but other transsexuals, those who are well-adjusted in society to those who are struggling not to fall down the sex work trap hole, may feel themselves stigmatized by a public labeling all transsexuals as sex-workers. Perception is a dangerous element; as well intentioned this documentary is, it may infringe the safe space of transsexuals who do not wish for sex work.

During the comments session after the viewing of “Pecah Lobang”, I was disappointed with some of the members of the audience who seemingly questioned Ms Poh Si Teng for doing the movie in the guise of “well-mannered talk”. One question that came to mind was whether she is using the movie in a way of promoting human rights as to making the wrong, right. I would have told the gentleman, there is nothing wrong with simply existing without harming others. These were also other questions Ms Teng seemed to have difficulty in answering, which explains the countless “I do not know”’s she used.

It would note however, with all of this film’s shortcomings, I believe Ms Teng was very courageous to go out on her own way to do this movie. She had said that she is not a filmaker, rather a journalist, so I do admit I am sad that the issue of transsexuals was poorly researched by her. But this could be a good starting point for more openness in talks about transsexuals, and Ms Teng at 24, will learn in time. As a member of the Legal Aids Centre commented, she only scratched the surface of the transsexuality issues. But, this could be a start of more things to come, positive ones hopefully, for our community.

Voice Comment: (206) 888-JOHN

:: download file :: listen on iPhone ::

Duration: 46:44 | 21.8 MB | Mono |

I am so excited to chat with PohSi Teng, one of the three winners of the Freedom Film Festival (FFF) 2008. Her bold subject in her documentary caught my attention. Find out about PohSi herself and her documentary project of Muslim transexual workers in Malaysia. She also talked about the challenges she faced and the things she got out of this project. I can’t wait to see this documentary myself. I will give you my opinion as soon as I get my hands on this film.

Those of you who are in Malaysia, these are the upcoming screenings. For more information, go to PohSi’s website for more detailed information reserving your tickets. All admissions are free.

Thanks to Gabrielle for posting the article here on TiltedWorld.org earlier. That’s what got me in touch with Teng PohSi.

Official Website of “Pecah Lobang”, the documentary

PT Foundation

Legal Aid Centre

In response to the raid on a transsexuals’ beuaty pageant reported by The Star on Sunday (June 27, 2008), one reader named Lilian Tan wrote a letter to the Star editor calling for respectful treatment towards transsexuals. Unfortunately, her letter has been followed by two mean spirited and bigoted letters:

Letter (I):

Wednesday July 30, 2008
Transsexuals are ‘haram’ under Islamic law

I REFER to the letter “Transsexuals can’t help being who they are” (The Star, July 29) and would like to point out that to comment on such a thing and why action was taken, one should understand Islamic Law.

When the writer says that “It is more inhumane to force these men to dress like a men etc,” she is indirectly saying that Islamic Law is inhumane.

Non-Muslims could argue that, but as Muslims, we know that on every Law that the Quran and Hadith lay, there is a ‘Hikmah’ and we abide by it. Some Islamic Laws are for prevention rather than punishment. But haram is haram. Period.

We don’t use so called human rights to justify what we like and not like. Why stop there? Why not go all the way and support gay marriages? Why force some men to marry women when it goes against their true nature?

I don’t think the writer has ever gone to the back lane of Jalan Pasar or Lorong Haji Taib where men dress up as women. Some are so beautiful you would think they were women whose only crime was to “make a living.”

AHQUA,
Cheras, Selangor.

Letter (II)

Thursday July 31, 2008

Transsexuals are not acceptable

I MUST say that if transsexuals can be described as “beautiful”, as Lilian Tan of Kuala Lumpur asserts, then the word “beautiful” must have acquired a completely new shade of meaning never before entered in any dictionary of the English language.

While we do not argue on the different inclinations of these people and the fact that “they cannot help being that way”, we certainly cannot make it acceptable or legal.

Ms Tan and those who share her views on this subject must be reminded that refuting one’s sexuality at birth is condemned by all religions as well as all civilised and decent traditions in millenniums of recorded history.

Countries around the world which have legalised homosexual and transsexual behaviour have consequently suffered a very steep decline in moral standards that in turn has led to the breakdown of the solid family structure and the isolation of the individual.

Criminality, terrorism and all types of physical and mental abuse come from lonely people who see society as alien, strange and identify it as an enemy.

Every human being has a right to life and freedom, but this freedom must not go against the laws of Nature and decorum. And no one can abuse you when you behave according to the law of both man and Nature.

It is not for me here to discuss or suggest what we should do to help people who display unnatural sexual tendencies. We have scientists, doctors, and counsellors who can better deal with that.

Suffice it to say that it is my sincere hope that the leaders of Malaysia, both Muslims and those of other faiths, will never label transsexual behaviour as acceptable.

MBA,
Ipoh

Yuki Choe’s reponse to the letter (I) (which was sent to The Star but not published):

Wednesday July 30, 2008

I am absolutely sympathetic to AHQUA’s choice of a world without human rights. He does not understand what human rights are until the extent he calls it “so-called”. Perhaps he never felt inclined to find out what is it and never will be.

What is disturbing is his challenge to the integrity of human rights. Human rights existed for centuries since the advent of time. With it, the boundaries of colours were broken down, slavery was abolished and women were finally able to vote. The world is constantly progressing respecting individuals as human beings, each heading to his or her own destiny, and does not need any attempt by any parties to stunt their growth.

It is because of human rights AHQUA gets to think what he thinks, says what he says and do what he does. Sadly, it seems AHQUA do not feel this way about it. He seems to feel contempt to all the freedom he is having as a human. He feels safe and secure locked up in his own world, even as Islam is undergoing modernization into a loving religion.

He went on to attack the transsexual prostitutes at Jalan Pasar and Lorong Haji Taib, as if all transsexuals are prostitutes, as if they are doing a crime by selling themselves. He claims the writer of the letter he referred to never been there. May I say this. I have been there. I have spoke to these beautiful women whose souls are torn and the scars of living in a society where bigots like AHQUA still remain. I spoken to them on their hopes and dreams and moving forward, but for the prejudice of society unwilling to accept the fact that these people exist, and that they are real women after all.

Instead, I wonder if AHQUA ever asked these nice ladies why they are there. I will tell him now, straight at his face; it is because intolerant and discriminative people like AHQUA who wants them to stay that way for the rest of their lives instead of living in a society that treats them as equals and able to get a decent job with their qualifications as any girls would do.

AHQUA, I have got news for you. I am here, a young adult transsexual female. I am healthy, confident and fighting. Do you know in medical terms what a transsexual female is? Do you know what is known as the “Harry Benjamin Syndrome”? I doubt you do. So perhaps you should go and get yourself some education on this before perpetuating your ill-informed and highly dogmatic views on what transsexuals are. And AhQua is a hokkien term. Since when you became one?

Pink Triangle Foundation’s response (submitted to The Star, The Sun and Malaysiakini):

Friday August 1, 2008

Dear Sir / Madam

Your report on the raids by the Kelantan Islamic Religious Departmnent on July 27th, 2008of ‘transvestities’ at the Glam Nite Miss Universe
Asia 2008 Pageant in Kelantan and the subsequent letters from Lilian Tan, Ahqua and MBA, makes for interesting reading. But I am afraid, none of them helps to address the practical realities that NGOs like PT Foundation has to cope with on the ground.

There will always be a contention on whether transgenders should be allowed to be who they are, and whether such a life is ‘un-Islamic’. Regardless of what the judgement is, the maknyah community has and will continue its existence in Malaysia as they have always been even way before the colonisation of Malaysia (as mak andams and palace aids). Transgendered people are also found in all nations from USA, to India, China and Iran, and have played prominent roles in ancient history. Their continued existence, despite the most repressive and restrictive laws, suggest that more practical appraches are needed to deal with their existence.

Some of the very real issues that confronts all self respecting Malaysians is that the maknyah community is one of the most stigmatised, prejudiced and discriminated communities. They have problems staying in schools and colleges due to the taunting from peers and teachers, they are subjected to rigid religious education, strict discipline, and tremendous moral pressure from well meaning parents and kampung leaders. Some run away from home or are evicted. In adult life they find difficulty in getting jobs, and lodgings. It is no wander that many of them turn to sex work and the entertainment
industry.

Being disempowered and living on the borderline has made the maknyah community very susceptible to HIV. Unfortunately HIV recognizes no borders, and this infection is passed on to wives and children of the clients and partners of maknyahs. The rate of HIV infection among maknyahs if not contained will result in Malaysia failing to meet the United Nations Millenium Development Goals despite doing well in all other areas.

At PT Foundation (a non-governmental association dealing with HIV prevention among marginalised communities), our approach of being community-based, non-judgmental and non-confrontational, is showing positive results. The maknyah community are given basic welfare, hygiene and legal assistance. HIV prevention, care and support are key components of our programmes. Our engagement with the Jabatan Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (JAWI) or the Federal Territory Islamic Department, has resulted in JAWI adopting a ‘dakwah’ approach in dealing with the maknyah community, that includes religious classes being conducted by JAWI and attended voluntarily by the maknyah community.

As a result, more maknyahs have opted to give up sex work and stop working in the entertainment industry. But they need a lot of help to move on in life such as training skills, job opportunities and most of all, the dignity to be treated as any other self respecting Malaysians.

They need the assistance of other state religious departments, welfare boards and people like Ahqua and MBA to help them get on with life. I for one believe that judgement is best left to be made by God on Judgement Day.

Enabling Communities,

Raymond Tai,
Acting Executive Director & Programme Director,
Pink Triangle Programme
PT Foundation

To our readers:

If you have written/intend to write any similar letters in response to the two prejudicial letters mentioned above, we would like to invite you to share your letters with us by sending your letters to contact@tiltedworld.org.

IndigNation 2008
Singapore’s 4th Annual GLBT Pride Season

The heart is the only broken instrument that works.” - T.E. Kalem

Farish Noor, Jerome Kugan, Jac Kee & Pang Khee Teik are reading and representing Malaysia at IndigNation.

To Malaysians who wanna go down on Singapore to support us, please let me know and I will see if we can organise a campy little road trip, perhaps take over the overnight train and burn the tracks into Tanjong Pagar!

To Singaporeans, please come and hear our stories lah. Admission is free!

Heartbreak Heroes is billed as a private event, so it requires registration: http://www.plu.sg/indignation/?p=473

Direction to venue: http://www.plu.sg/indignation/?p=408

+ + + + +

“The heart is the only broken instrument that works.” - T.E. Kalem

DR. FARISH A NOOR is Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University; and Affiliated Professor at Universitas Muhamadiyah Surakarta (UMS), Surakarta. He will present the titillating academic study on “Our Very Own Bisexual Superhero: Rereading the Hikayat Panji Samarang.”

JEROME KUGAN is a writer and musician who recently released his electro-acoustic debut album “Songs For A Shadow”. JK also edits Poetika, his pet poetry journal, co-organises Wayang Kata, KL Sing Song, Troubadours, was sub-editor of KLue and Junk magazines, and now works as the media whore for The Annexe Gallery. He will read a short story called “Alvin”.

JAC SM KEE is a feminist writer, activist, poet and occasional painter. She has written column pieces for several Malaysian newspapers, and numerous articles for both online and offline journals. Jac has also self-published a collection of poetry. Jac will be reading “a bunch of words and sentences strung together to make a shape of loss”.

PANG KHEE TEIK is the Arts Programme Director of The Annexe Gallery. He was formerly the editor of the online arts magazine Kakiseni.com. As an arts practitioner, he has been involved in theatre, independent films, photography, graphic design, writing, editing, plus a spot of experimental dancing, not just on the podium. Pang is reading an autobiographical story about being bullied in a hostel in Singapore.

+ + + + +

Singapore’s 4th annual Pride

There are talks and forums, art and literature, and of course, fun social and outdoor events - for learning, celebrating and building bridges with those outside our communities. So please keep your evenings free in August and come to as many as you can.

All events are free of charge unless otherwise stated.
Calendar of events: http://www.plu.sg/indignation/

Other events at Indignation that same weekend:

My wife, my kids…
Friday, 15 August, 7:30 pm, at Post Museum

Heartbreak heroes: Four Malaysians on surviving love, loss and a hostel in Singapore
Private event. REGISTER
Saturday, 16 August 2008, 3 pm, at 72-13

TheBearProject Charity Art Show
Saturday, 16 August 2008, 7 pm, at Play

Queer women within feminist Singapore
Saturday, 16 August 2008, 7:30 pm, at 72-13

Is HIV becoming an Asian disease?
Tuesday, 19 August 2008, 7:30 pm, at Post Museum

(picture source: Bernama)

According to The Star reports, (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/17/nation/21846232&sec=nation), Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen stresses that all Malaysians, regardless of their sexual orientation, are equally entitled to welfare aid as long as they meet welfare requirements, and acknowledges the fact that homosexuals are often stigmatised in our society.

Surely, it is consoling to know that, amid the recent wave of moral panic propogated by certain authorities (Bernama articles lambasting homosexuality as a social ill, certain members of Parliament labelling homosexuality as a “problem” - http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=346091 etc), we have a senior Minister who is willing to lend her authority to remind everyone that gays are to be treated no less and no more than other Malaysian citizens.

But the work to promote equal treatment of gays does not end with the recognition of gays’ equal rights. It must be followed by consistent and committed initiatives by the government, NGOs and civil society alike to incorporate LGBTs into mainstream society in every aspect. It’s a long way to go, but if someone like Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen has made the first step of acknowledging the equal rights of gays, then we must make sure that the ball doesn’t stop rolling.

Meesh is a writer, friend, and fabulous party girl when she gets her booty out at night. You may have encountered her work in magazines like Off The Edge, Tell and recently, KLUE. Most relevant in this case is that she’s intelligent and has a fierce sense of justice.

Last week, one of her notes on Facebook caught my attention - a letter to the editor regarding the slew of bad press Bernama has been dishing out to homosexuality, sodomy and half the world (on the Western side, of course).

This is what she had to say:

I have never really held BERNAMA in high regard, choosing to get my news elsewhere, but what they are doing with the homosexuality issue and the features they are coming up with this week, given it’s timing with the DSAI case, is in one word -  disgusting.

I urge you all who read this, to please write a Letter to the Editor too. Show they that we are not so easily manipulated with such ridiculous stories, that they try to pass off as “News Features.”

Thank you.

*

Here is what I sent in, after reading this rubbish:

http://web7.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_features.php?id=344763

Letter to BERNAMA

Dear Editor,

I refer to the piece, “Homosexual’s Life Of Moral Decadence, written by Melati Mohd Ariff, written July 8th on your News Features section.

I have a huge contention with this article and the views of the writer that is expressed in it.

Firstly, all Malaysians have their views on homosexuality based on their personal religious and cultural beliefs, and that is their right as citizens of this country.

I also think the people interviewed for the piece have a right in expressing their views as seen in the statements they provided in the writing of this piece.

However, your writer/journalist Melati and her overbearing views do not give any merit to this story, in fact it ruins the credibility of this story instantly. She is judgemental, biased and places more importance in injecting her views into the story than actually sticking to the facts.

As a journalist myself, I understand that in news features the writer is given a little more freedom with what they are to write, which is well and good. But, upon reading the article any discerning reader can see the bias and slant that she takes.

Here is one example:

“In the West, the morally wrong and corrupt homosexual act has turned into a sort of plague, spreading its tentacles far and wide, engulfing individuals with the tendency of adopting this immoral self-indulgence.”

Who is Melati? Is she from a religious body? Is she a psychologist? An anthropologist? A person who studies different cultures or human behaviour? Is she God?

How does a writer come to these heavy handed judgemental statements? What references does she have to make these claims? I don’t understand. She is merely a medium. This is not some personal blog, where she can push forth her agenda and platform, her duty in working for a national news agency is to produce QUALITY well-research stories with truth, fairness and accuracy. And by truth, I do not mean a truth she makes up in her writing.

She does it again in the following statement:

“This act, which is like a malignant cancer, should not be allowed to spread its tentacles, as it threatens to bring destruction and devastation to the society.”

Firstly, your writer writes horribly. And your sub-editors aren’t doing a good job either. Cancer IS malignant, there are no benign cancers, so her words are redundant, and the entire article is written with horrible, unprofessional English, grammar and sentence structure, but I will leave that part out, although I shouldn’t have to.

You are a national news agency, don’t your writers and editors take pride in their work?

I am forced to think that you do not. That statement she made is vile and bilious. She is of no authority to be pontificating on these issues, or to be making such claims of moral devastation and degeneration.

As a journalist she is merely a medium to the message, no one cares about your opinion unless you have standing. Why is hers so important?

The fact that you have published such a ridiculous, half-baked piece with little to no facts, and a complete inadequate examination of the situation at hand, and simply allowing Melati here to lay blame on the West for homosexuality is utterly disgusting.

You have no statistics, no figures and this piece is just completely unsubstantial and in my opinion used to fuel hate to minority groups in this country.

How you, BERNAMA, a mouthpiece for the nation’s dissemination and providing of news have allowed your quality to be so compromised is beyond me.

I hope you will not allow this to happen again, it is one of the shoddiest displays of journalism I have had the misfortune to see recently.

The public are the stakeholders in this country and the timing of this article is suspect as well. Suddenly, after certain persons in the public eye are accused of sodomy allegations there is a scathing attack on homosexuality, with no substantial facts and figures too I might add, is a little odd, don’t you think?

The Malaysian public reading this piece may very well agree with some of the views expressed, if they are ignorant and have no intention of being inquisitive and learning more, because if this is going to cause the devastation your writer claims, then more attention to the FACTS are necessary, aren’t they?

But, I assure you, there are many of us who are watching the news intently and it is not in your favour to publish articles like this which further go to ruin yours and the mainstream media’s already fragile credibility.

With this, I take my leave, and ask you humbly to uphold some semblance of journalistic integrity and honour in your content.

Michelle Gunaselan, AMPANG

On a personal note, I made it a point yonks ago to boycott various local sources of news, and usually won’t even click on the website urls provided (eg: The Star, NST) unless I have a very good reason to. Still, the flaw in this is that I am reliant on people like Meesh to inform me that there’s yet more published stupidity out there - if Meesh tags me on a note in Facebook, I cringe because that usually means something uber salah has appeared in the news recently.

These are other letters that online that discusses this issue:

Homosexuality & Moral Decadence? by Mabel Teoh.

Homophobic Bernama by Praba Ganesan.

What is Happening to Malaysia??? by Patrick Teoh.

An Unbridled Ignorance by JJ Ray.

Those are the links I have, if you know of any more, feel free to drop them off here :).

Many thanks to Professor Teh Yik Khoon for her permission to reproduce her article “Transsxualism Is A Biological Phenomenon”. This article was originally published in www.malaysiakini.com on 25th January 2006.

I refer to all the letters published recently on transsexuals. I feel that as a researcher in this area, I should speak out. Why is it so difficult for people to accept a person who is different from the norm even though this person has not done anything bad or hampered their quality of life? Why must people always be so judgmental and think that they are better than others?

They judge not only the transsexuals, but also physically challenged people, mentally-ill people, etc. Don’t forget that when you judge others and create hell for others, you are also being judged by God. God tells us to be kind and compassionate to others; not to take away the quality of life of others. At the end of the day, transsexuals themselves are going to answer to God, not to other people. So, please let God be the ultimate judge and not us.

As a researcher, there is already enough scientific research in the area of transsexualism to convince my colleagues and I that transsexualism refers to a biological phenomenon. This research is published in reputable journals as well as on the Internet. The debate on this issue goes on because people, especially those in authority, refuse to accept these scientific findings.

MCA’s Wanita chief Dr Ng Yen Yen did speak as a medical doctor once in support of transsexuals’ rights sometime back because she is aware of these scientific research.

The myths that male to female transsexuals are influenced to be one by their peers, that their parents dressed them up as girls when they were young because they wanted a daughter, that they were the only male child and were influence by their many sisters or that they were sexually abused when small, are still widely believed in society, including among professionals, as shown in TV3’s ‘Wanita Hari Ini’ programme on Nov 30 last year.

My research on 507 transsexuals in 2001, which has been peered reviewed internationally and accepted by the international academic community, shows nothing of the sort. Transsexuals start feeling different at a very young age, some as young as four or five years old. Their parents, especially their mothers, could not accept their cross-dressing let alone dressing them up as girls when they were small. They have both brothers and sisters as their role models. Many transsexuals were not sexually abused when small.

Researchers overseas that I know, including researchers like myself, started out wondering whether transsexualism is a social phenomenon. After carrying out our research, we all ended up believing strongly that you cannot ignore biological factors.

Concerning religion, I have spoken to an ustaz at Jakim (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam) and he said that if transsexualism is a biological factor, then Islam will have to reinterpret the matter. I hope the relevant authority will open up to the fact that transsexualism does have a biological factor. In Iran, the government has accepted the existence of transsexuals and pays for the sex change operation as they believe that quality of life is important to this community.

Lastly, I hope the media will be more balanced in their talk shows on marginalised communities as bias reporting will be very detrimental to their quality of life, creating more discrimination and marginalisation of these communities - like what TV3 has done with their ‘Wanita Hari Ini’ programme. I have already voiced out my dissatisfaction to them. Also, if everyone tries to have a friend among the transsexuals, you will have a different opinion about them.