Should LGBTQ+ Community Be Accepted in Malaysia? A Sociology Essay

This sociology essay explores the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Malaysia, focusing on societal and legal discrimination. It highlights the impact of Islamic views and government policies, including laws that penalize homosexuality and cross-dressing. The essay discusses various perspectives, including those of the non-LGBTQ+ community, addressing arguments against acceptance, such as concerns about intellectual diversity, limitations of rights, cultural conflicts, and potential demographic impacts. It emphasizes the importance of human rights and calls for changes in societal attitudes and government policies to promote acceptance and equality for sexual minorities in Malaysia. The essay also references relevant academic sources to support its arguments.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
Critical thinking and Problem Solving
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

1SOCIOLOGY
The LGBTQ community in Malaysia experiences massive problems which is not faced by the
usual heterosexual individual. The major religion followed by the country is Islam which has put
a ban on the homosexuality and the non-acceptance of sexual minorities (Ng, E. (2018). The law
is stringent regarding these cases which may even lead to an imprisonment for up to 20 years or
even corporal punishment.
Many efforts has been made by the government to suppress the voice raised by the sexual
minorities in the country like the Seksualiti Merdeka or justice for sisters challenging the cross
dressing ban (Owoyemi, Sabri, & Sani, 2013). These instances have showed the intolerant nature
of the government regarding the rights of sexual minorities.
Men femininity or women masculinity is frowned upon by the societal rules of the state
which also needs to be changed. The discrimination shown towards the LGBTQ community is
rampant which needs to be addressed as it suppresses the talent and freedom of expression of
these individuals. The Human Rights have faced severe assault as a result of the Sharia laws
which prohibits people from cross-dressing (Rehman & Polymenopoulou, 2013). The
transgender also receive arrests and even physical and sexual assault for expressing their gender
identities (Lee, 2012).
In lights of human rights and the LGBTQ communities’ rights across the world, the
government of Malaysia should uplift its ban and its conservativeness regarding these matters.
The unacceptance of homosexuality, bisexuality and other form of sexual preferences is also
shaped by the Islamic views (Majid, 2015). The public opinion conducted also shows a
significant number of population going against the idea of establishing the LGBTQ rights.

2SOCIOLOGY
The society has to go a long way and fight over the acceptance of the rights of sexual
minorities. The people need to change their perspectives about individual’s sexual preference
which would only help the country to look beyond the idea of heterosexuality.

3SOCIOLOGY
References
bin Wan, W. A. E. D., & This, S. L. G. B. T. The Present and Future for LGBT Youth in
Malaysia.
Lee, J. C. (2012). Sexuality rights activism in Malaysia: The case of Seksualiti Merdeka.
In Social Activism in Southeast Asia (pp. 184-200). Routledge.
Majid, W. R. A. (2015). Rights demanded by LGBT people: a preliminary refutation. TAFHIM:
IKIM Journal of Islam and the Contemporary World, 8.
Ng, E. (2018). LGBT Advocacy and Transnational Funding in Singapore and
Malaysia. Development and Change, 49(4), 1093-1114.
Owoyemi, M. Y., Sabri, A. Z. S. A., & Sani, A. Z. (2013). LGBT: nature or ideology: The view
of a former LGBT Practitioner in Malaysia. Research Journal of Biological
Sciences, 8(4), 104-111.
Rehman, J., & Polymenopoulou, E. (2013). Is green a part of the rainbow: sharia, homosexuality,
and LGBT rights in the Muslim world. Fordham Int'l LJ, 37, 1.