Police ban gay arts festival as threat to public order in Muslim-majority Malaysia

Dan82 · Nov 3, 2011

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world...ity-malaysia/2011/11/03/gIQARwishM_story.html

This year’s five-day festival — starting Nov. 9 at a private arts center and themed “Queer Without Fear” — featured planned musical performances of “queer anthems sung by fierce local singers and drag divas who know what it means to love out loud and proud,” organizers said.

But after criticism by the deputy prime minister and plans by several Muslim nongovernment groups to protest, police ordered the event to be canceled.

Authorities will “prevent any function relating to the program,” deputy police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said in a statement run by national Bernama news agency and confirmed by police representatives.

Many organizations “feared the program could create disharmony, enmity and disturb public order,” Khalid said.

Earlier Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had described the event as “inappropriate” and a “waste of time,” according to Bernama.

Gay rights activists did not immediately respond. Earlier, they had said the festival was meant to counter widespread homophobia in this socially conservative Asian nation, where a young gay man received death threats last year after posting a YouTube clip defending his sexuality.

“Asking us to keep quiet is asking us to take your abuse with a smile ... it’s time to put a stop to all the hate and misunderstanding and abuse,” festival spokesman Pang Khee Teik said in an online statement posted Thursday before the event was banned...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world...ity-malaysia/2011/11/03/gIQARwishM_story.html
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Drowzee64 · Nov 3, 2011

Re: Police ban gay arts festival as threat to public order in Muslim-majority Malaysi

I have no words for this, so I'll just leave an image:

Revan · Nov 3, 2011

Re: Police ban gay arts festival as threat to public order in Muslim-majority Malaysi

Sadly your image failed to be produced...

Drowzee64 · Nov 4, 2011

Re: Police ban gay arts festival as threat to public order in Muslim-majority Malaysi

Darnit. Oh well.

Police ban gay arts festival as threat to public order in Muslim-majority Malaysia

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Police ban gay arts festival as threat to public order in Muslim-majority Malaysia

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