Religion and Attitudes towards LGBT in Malaysia

Yeo, Jiin Yih and Ting, Su Hie and Collin, Jerome (2021) Religion and Attitudes towards LGBT in Malaysia. In: 2nd Kuala Lumpur International Conference on Business, Education, Social Sciences and Technology 2021 (KLIBEST 2021), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 29 May 2021, 29 May 2021, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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Abstract

In Malaysia, LGBT is a punishable crime not only under the Syariah law but also under the penal laws. The present study examined how religion shapes attitudes towards LGBT among Malaysians, focusing in particular on their rationalisation for accepting or rejecting LGBT. Indepth interviews were conducted with 12 participants from different religious backgrounds and the data were analysed thematically. The results of the study showed that a majority of Muslims and Christians rejected LGBT on religious grounds. The findings also revealed three rationalisations of Muslims and Christians rejecting LGBT. (1) LGBT goes against the teaching of God. It is viewed as a sin and this religious belief should be passed down to the next generation. (2) LGBT is morally wrong. (3) LGBT is physically wrong as they believed God creates male and female to produce offspring. Some participants acknowledged that Christians should be compassionate to LGBT individuals by giving moral support to them. However, one Buddhist participant rationalised accepting LGBT on the ground that love is a core Buddhist teaching. The admonition of Buddha is not to harm others through sexuality. The study identified religious beliefs as one of the main influences people rejected LGBT culture but accepted LGBT individuals on the basis that they were human beings who deserved to be respected too.

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