1. To marry or not to marry: The law and sexuality rights in Malaysia Sharon A. Bong

2. Malaysia in Southeast Asia

3. Census 2010 Malaysia: religions

4. Census 2010 Malaysia: ethnic groups

5. Malaysia: Law & sexuality rights
Malaysian context: social-legal limits
Global context: Sexuality rights
To marry or not to marry, that is the question
To marry or not to marry, that is not the only question

6. Malaysia: social-legal context
Secular law
No gender-based discrimination (Federal Constitution)
Marriage = man + woman (Marriage and Divorce Act 1976)  void (man + man)
‘unnatural offences’ (377 Penal Code)
Religious (Syariah) law
Heteronormative: incest prohibited (Islamic Family Law)
Liwat (gay sex) & musahaqah (lesbian sex) (Syariah Criminal Offences)

7. Sexuality (WHO)
“a central aspect of being human throughout life [that] encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction. Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviours, practices, roles and relationships. While sexuality can include all of these dimensions, not all of them are always experienced or expressed. Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, legal, historical, religious and spiritual factors” (WHO 2010).

8. Sexuality rights: Yogyakarta Principles
the right to universal enjoyment of human rights
the right to equality and non-discrimination
the right to recognition before the law
the right to security of the person
the right to privacy
the right to found a family
the right to participate in public life

9. Same-sex marriage: Rev. Ngeo
Accused of promoting extremism among Malay-Muslims
“It’s my right to celebrate my joy with the people I care about…The government can make noise…but they’re not welcome here”

10. Same-sex marriage: Ariff
Reactions: “disgrace”, “rot in hell”, “want to vomit”, come home to be “saved”
“I just want to get by without upsetting anyone or causing any trouble. My overriding concern is for my family”

11. First lesbian couple to publicly wed
Apple & Thomas
First lesbian couple to publicly wed

12. Marriage equality debate
To marry, or not to marry, that is the question
Break the silence on taboo topic
Make visible GLBTIQ persons & life stories
Government & religious as anti-gay (homophobic)
To marry, or not to marry: that is not the only question
Sexuality politicised  sexuality education
Legalise same-sex marriage  implement all sexuality rights
 gender-sexual justice for all

13. “false choice” universalism vs. religions
“I long for the day when people are simply given the choices to determine who they are, who they love and who they want to tell that to, while their families and communities are allowed to support them. And that together, we are recognised through our love for each other rather than our hate” – Pang Khee Teik