Perspectives on LGBT in Malaysia: Sexual regulation from below
List of Authors
  • Sharifah Ahmad , Su-Hie Ting

Keyword
  • social interaction, sexual regulation, sociology of knowledge, LGBT

Abstract
  • The study investigated perceptions of LGBT identities in Malaysia by examining social interaction as the source of social knowledge about LGBT. The perception is relevant now as the topic of sexual orientation is once again occupying the discourse of morality and human rights in the country. As they re-enter into mainstream consciousness, question should be asked about the sources that inform public opinion when talking about LGBT. Using a semi-structured interview, 12 participants living in Kuching and Kota Samarahan districts of Sarawak, Malaysia, were asked about what they thought about LGBT individuals, the sources of their information and the people that they were predisposed to share conversation with on the topic. The results showed that people’s opinions are informed by social interaction. Those who tend to develop a positive valuation are more likely to encounter the LGBT individuals through personal friendship. Further, we discover that people who talked with parents and friends tend to look for information that corroborate pre-existing tendency. The study concludes by emphasising the role of social interaction as a key source of social knowledge about LGBT among Malaysians.

Reference
  • 1. Amaya, J. F. S. & Gonzalez, O. R. (2019). Challenges of LGBT research in the 21st century. International Sociology, 34(4), 371-381.
    2. Barrett, M., & Phillips, A. (1992). Destabilizing theory: Contemporary feminist debates. UK: Polity Press.
    3. Baudrillard, J. (2005). The conspiracy of art. Massachusetts: MIT Press.
    4. Berger, P., & Luckman, T. (1991). The social construction of reality. New York: Penguin Books.
    5. Butler, J. (2004). Undoing gender. New York: Routledge.
    6. Durkheim, E. (2006). Suicide. Oxford: Routledge.
    7. Epstein, S. (1994). A queer encounter: Sociology and the study of sexuality. Sociological Theory, 12(2), 188-202.
    8. Foucault, M. (2006). Psychiatric power. New York: Picador.
    9. Fritz, R. (2021). The LGBTQ movement and Christianity (Its threat and our response): Part 1. Christian Headlines. https://www.christianheadlines.com/columnists/guest-commentary/the-lgbtq-movement-and-christianity-its-threat-and-our-response-part-1.html
    10. FRA-European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. (2014). Being trans in the European Union: Comparative analysis of EU LGBT survey data. Austria: EU Agency for Fundamental Rights Publication Office. https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra-2015-being-trans-eu-comparative-summary_en.pdf
    11. Lamb, K. (2015, January 13). Court rejects government bid to ban Canadian’s Muslim Malay book on Islam. https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2015/01/13/court-rejects-government-bid-to-ban-canadian-muslims-malay-book-on-islam/818641
    12. Lamb, K. (2018, September 3). Women canned in Malaysia for attempting to have lesbian sex. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/03/women-caned-in-malaysia-for-attempting-to-have-lesbian-sex
    13. Palansamy, Y. (2019). LGBT culture against Islamic principles but Malaysia doesn’t kill gays, deputy minister tells George Clooney. Malay Mail. https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2019/05/14/lgbt-against-islam-but-we-dont-kill-gay-people-deputy-minister-tells-george/1752892
    14. Walby, S. (1990). Theorising patriarchy. Oxford: Blackwell.
    15. Wareham, James (2020, 17 May). Map shows where it’s illegal to be gay – 30 years WHO declassified homosexuality as disease. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiewareham/2020/05/17/map-shows-where-its-illegal-to-be-gay--30-years-since-who-declassified-homosexuality-as-disease/?sh=1d928e48578a.