So yesterday I watched an hour-long video of a trans-women in hijab talking about the current situation of LGBTQ community in Malaysia. I must say that she has a valid point and I agree with her 100%. As the saying goes, you don’t need to be an animal to understand animal rights and the same goes to the LGBTQ community. The LGBTQ issue started to heat up in Malaysia when women voiced out their concern about the trans-women using the ladies instead of the gents. So how do we address this issue?
First, we must try to understand the situation in every aspect. Religious and community included. To touch every aspect, we must have knowledge. We can’t just simply talk about this issue just to prove our point. We need to agree to disagree. Everyone have their own say in this issue, so how does one determine who’s right and who’s wrong? Here comes tolerance. Religious wise (I’m going to talk about Islam), yes God forbid gender reassignment, cross-dressing and homosexuality. It is there in the Holy Quran. However, God also forbid violence, insults and hurting each other’s feeling. If you’re part of the LGBTQ community, you must understand that you are the minority and people already have negative perceptions on you. Try to understand why these women are worried about having you in the ladies. First, the Muslimah in hijab who has been covering her aurah. You are still a man to them and they are concerned about seeing their aurah even if they know that you are not sexually attracted to them. They’re just doing their part for their religion. So, does this mean the trans-women need to use the gents instead? I’ll say why not? But here comes the tolerance from the men, if the trans-women are kind enough to respect the hijabis privacy and not using the ladies anymore and started to use the gents. Don’t give them judgmental look and don’t harass them, can you do that guys? I bet you can’t.
So, the solution given by the minister is for the trans-women to use the toilet for the disables. I’ll say why not? It’s spacious and you’ll have more privacy. Plus, you don’t have to queue! If you’re saying you felt insulted when they asked you to use the toilet for the disables, why? Why do you feel that? Are disable people any lesser than you that you felt insulted? The LGBTQ issue in Malaysia is more than just which toilet to use. It is also about job discrimination and public humiliation, threats and many more. Why are LGBTQ people being treated this way? If we can respect each other diversity in religion and culture, why can’t we respect each other’s sexuality? As a Muslim, my religion taught me that if you want people to embrace Islam, you must set a good example. You kill the cancer not the cancer patient, right? So, that is how you deal with people with different views and believes. Not that I’m saying LGBTQ is a cancer or it is a threat to the society. If you have a strong religious belief, things like this won’t hurt your faith. LGBTQ community also need to set a good example, respect other people’s sensitivity as much as you want them to respect yours.
What can we do Malaysia? We need tolerance, respect and love. We need it now more than ever. We want to live a harmonious life in Malaysia. This is not about just LGBTQ, there are so many things we need to have tolerance, respect and love. We need them in the poverty issues in Malaysia, the gender equality in jobs opportunity, the rights to quality education and many more. So, the next time you want to protest about which toilet the trans-women should use, you think about other things as well.
Again, let’s agree to disagree, shall we?
P/S: We must always look at ourselves first before looking into others.