KUALA LUMPUR: In an effort to push acceptance and in protest to recent reports of new Malaysia government guidelines aimed at educating parents and teachers to track gay children in the country, a local cafe and restaurant gave free briyani to those wearing tight-fitting and v-neck shirts. Owners Herukh and Kubhaer T. Jeswant of Fierce Curry House in Bangsar Utama said they wanted to poke fun at the government's recent attacks on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Malaysia and made the offer on Sunday to celebrate diversity. “When the guidelines came out, we thought it was ridiculous,” they told The Star newspaper. “But instead of joining in the fray to condemn it, we thought it would be an interesting concept to give out free briyani meals to the first 15 men who walk in with a V-neck and a man-bag," said Herukh, who publicized his offer on Facebook. The Malaysia government said on Sunday that it has no guidelines for sexuality in the country and denied that it had created a pamphlet that lashes out at the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in the country. “Contrary to media reports, the government has not produced any guidelines regarding individuals' sexuality, nor does it endorse them," a statement from the government said. “They were produced by private organizations, who are not affiliated with the government." It comes on the heels of reports that a seminar was being promoted by the government and the education ministry to show parents and teachers how to know when a child is becoming a homosexual. The Teachers Foundation of Malaysia has organized 10 seminars in the country to assist teachers and parents in spotting the signs of homosexuality in their children and students. On Wednesday last week, some 1,500 people attended one such seminar, a spokesman for the foundation said. “It is a multi-religious and multicultural (event), after all, all religions are basically against that type of behavior," said the official in comments published by Reuters news agency. According to one handout delivered to participants, signs of homosexuality in boys may include “preferences for tight, light colored clothes and large handbags," local media reported. Last month, Malaysia's Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom said that same-sex marriages would “erode the family institution" and called on Malaysians of all ethnic backgrounds to protest against gay rights in the country. It was the latest attack on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in the country. He was commenting on the recent wedding reception of Malaysian gay Christian pastor Ngeo Boon Lin and his musical producer husband, American Phineas Newborn III, who were married in New York last year. The minister said that even the Christians in the country prohibited such practices. “The reception portrayed Malaysian society as confused. It's clear their motive was to fight for gay rights," he said. For the country's lesbian and gay population, the struggle for rights is an uphill battle. With the country's legal code based largely on the British system that was implemented last century during its occupation of Malaysia, and coupled with the growing power of Islamic clerics, creating openness and dialogue is often difficult. But couples like Rina and Youssra are beginning to see changes in everyday perception towards their relationship. “First it was our friends who were a little taken aback by our getting together, but they came around," continued Rina. “Now we can go to a number of clubs in KL and elsewhere, spend time on the beach and not be bothered, because we see that once people learn about us and see us, it is different." Much to the continued frustration of the community, the government continued its anti-gay strategy on last Tuesday, arguing that the country's constitution does not give LGBT rights. Deputy Minister Mashitah Ibrahim told the Dewan Rakyat that the federal constitution does not protect gay rights in the country. Mashitah said that Article 8 of the constitution, which talks about equality, has never been interpreted to mean sexual preference and only applies to gender. “Article 8 of the Federal Constitution says there must be no discrimination of citizens in terms of religion or sex. ‘Sex' has never been interpreted to mean sexual orientation; it has always been interpreted to mean either male or female, and they are [the only ones] protected by the constitution," said Ibrahim. Clause 1 of Article 8 states that “all persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law". Clause 2 states that “there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender."
