I've heard about the It Gets Better Project as a fan, listener and reader of Dan Savage, the guy who started the project as a response to the cases of gay teen suicide in America. I'd mention the project earlier, but it might be over the heads of what few readers I get here. I've been wondering if anyone from Malaysia was going to post a "It Gets Better" video on that site and apparently someone already did.
So some other Malaysians are also posting their own videos unto YouTube at the seksualitimerdeka channel (check it out). But the biggest reaction any one video got so far is from Azwan Ismail, a Malay Muslim man professing his sexual preference in Bahasa Malaysia for the whole world to see. The man is brave for putting it out there. And the douchebag comments are still coming in. Don't worry, the video has English subtitles.
I don't get the outcry about this video: of course there are gay people in Malaysia (especially in the theatre community, I'm just saying) - even among the Muslim population, but it's on the implied side of things. People that think there aren't are idiots. There also used to be cross-dressing, queer, effeminate Malaysians on TV a long time ago, which I'm reminded of thanks to Amir Muhammad's piece.
There's a lot of hot air on the Internet from other Muslims spouting stuff that Christian religious nuts say in the West - that they're gonna burn in hell, etc etc. Well, those people are idiots and assholes themselves. And shouldn't watch GLEE and musical theatre.
I personally don't have this kind of deep-seated issues against gay people and homosexual relationships - if they've found someone to love who loves them back, good on them. Really. I may or may not have a meaningful relationship in my lifetime, but it doesn't mean gay people should be denied the same.
Azwan, the rest of us are okay that you're gay.
PS. Yes, I actually know Azwan - he's a nice guy, regardless of his sexual orientation. Did I know? Yes - my gaydar was functional, but as it is in Malaysia, it went without saying.
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