Malaysian Sikh Youths’ Perception of Diverse Sexual Identities

Abstract

Malaysia is well known to the world audience as a multicultural nation and a country dominated by religious beliefs, including religions such as Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism. However, over the years, Malaysia has been doing its rounds in the papers for its strict rules over the denial of human rights for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community. In 2015, Malaysia’s ex–Prime Minister Najib Razak openly declared his take on the LGBT community by equating them to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and claiming that both are ‘enemies of Islam’. Whereas Islamic religious authorities have made clear their stance on LGBT communities, the Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) has taken a much-blanketed approach on the matter. The group is against any violent attack against, harassment or intimidation of and threat to the LGBT community, but the very essence of this stand is oxymoronic, as they have not done anything to prevent such incidents from taking place either. Sikhism has a liberal perspective on acceptance, regarding aspects such as gender, race, ethnicity and age, to name a few, that one would interpret it is an LGBT-friendly religion. Hence, this article is a humble attempt at understanding the Malaysian Sikh youths’ perspectives on the ever-growing branches of sexual identity. This article will add to the literature on Sikhs’ attitudes towards homosexuality, especially in Southeast Asia.