There is outrage both in Malaysia and internationally after it became known that a group of boys, identified as effeminate by teachers have been sent to an anti-gay camp!
The camp has been set up to correct the effeminate behaviour of a group of Muslim schoolboys. However, such a camp violates the countries own law and should be abolished, claims Malaysia's women's minister.
Sixty-six schoolboys identified by teachers as effeminate began counselling this week to discourage them from being gay. They are undergoing four days of religious and physical education, according to officials. The education official said the camp was meant to guide the boys back "to a proper path in life".
But the women's minister, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, said singling out these children based on perceived feminine mannerisms was traumatising and harmful to their mental health. The camp violates the Child Act, which protects children without prejudice, she said.
Gay rights groups have also criticised the measure, saying it promotes homophobia in the Muslim-majority country where gay sex is still illegal.
State officials say that, if left unchecked, the students - aged between 13 and 17 - could end up gay or transsexual.
We should send a clear message to institutions that they have no business meddling with an individual's identity and personal preference”
End Quote Joint Action Group for Gender Equality, Malaysia
They blame parents for encouraging boys to develop feminine traits, by dressing them up in girls' clothing at a young age. Terengganu state's education director, Razali Daud, said the students were invited to join the camp and were not compelled to do so. As educators, we have to do something about it before the young ones misunderstand people and reach the point of no return," he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times. Mr Razali says although homosexuals and transvestites exist in Malaysia, the authorities want to limit their number.
Homophobia is rife in the country, where gay sex is still illegal and many say they face discrimination from society as well as from government. Gay acts such as sodomy is a crime punishable by 20 years in prison.
Activists say it is appalling that educators are persecuting children for expressing their personalities and identities. The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality said "corrective boot camps" violate the rights of people who are perceived as different.
"It should be strongly opposed and challenged as it promotes homophobia and prejudice," the group said in a statement. "We should send a clear message to institutions that they have no business meddling with an individual's identity and personal preference."
A campaigner for sexual rights, Pang Khee Teik, described the camp as outrageous and an example of homophobia. "All the students will learn from these camps is that they are expected to behave a certain way," said Mr Pang, co-founder of Seksualiti Merdeka.
"And in order to avoid further ridicule, perhaps they will learn to pretend better. In the end, we are only teaching them how to be a hypocrite."
“It’s outrageous that these boys should be subject to such a discriminatory methods and actions” Jason Shaw, a gay rights commentator and writer said today. “This is nothing short of homophobia on a grand scale, government hatred of anything even remotely or possibly gay sends out a message of hate to every citizen regardless of sexual orientation. It’s distasteful, very distasteful indeed”
No comments:
Post a Comment