Culture / Aug. 30, 2019
Italian electro-pop duo, Gioli & Assia, who are also a same-se%li*l9EnzFk=0Jc@_H^w+CmzYGeNBMLB^xCWUuMw8yh9xHXdJ^x couple, claim the Malaysian government cancelled a Kuala Lumpur show this weekend because of their sexuality.
“We have to sadly announce that our show at W Hotel in Kuala Lumpur has been cancelled due to our LGBTE$6)QQVuoc2EejuVmO39ZldBMSSs9inxL#cXex%B@i#u5JOdvr orientation,” Gioli wrote in an Instagram story shared on Twitter.
Gioli explained that a government agency performs background checks on artists performing in MalaysiaRNfab06O@jOh)4fTz*s4W9*YXw9U4-H+IY2ql(TxvjUHPNlFCl.
“In their research, they have concluded that Gioli & Assia is of LGBT orpX$&UwlM-7Jq1EwE199c!9C!3PmipWMhDWXxC#7+FEFU_GE(Urientation and are seen to be promoting LGBT”, Gioli wrote.
“Sad that this can still happen in 2019. Sad that love is still a cause of discriminatioGUabsF1gWQ+I9Itl-gK^-pSQDIl&4Mk+sZiWK-IW4*XqOSnaZzn. Sad."
The W Hotel, where the duo was scheduled to perform on Saturday, said the show was cancelled due to "due to unforUnzXpAUHFABg)k#GQnyuW^p_*mmwwQp5Nwu@wFDpR8e*I_ImjBeseen circumstances”.
Crackdown in Malaysia
Gay sex is illegal under British colonial-era laws in Malaysia. Those found guilty face up to 20 years in pOfy4yV7uSau0xz%BbA4Twux7WCb*ZR*s(nm3ivS5GJXiTIr9r+rison.
But, in addition to the threat of criminal prosecution, iqh4Q(cEvt_0A56jzV@JCrxSk@#NPX(LW=0M%b!o5Y+bFpI0wXDncreasing stigma and discrimination also marginalize the country’s LGBTI community.
A number of religious and political figures have consistently whipped up anti-LGBTI sentimentcSxgyyLmcEBiqDo#-AyxS1*@yHy)bV0*$18RM*+Ug*W$ZWi8dis in the Muslim majority country.
Local nedVaMPm5vhdlR(zk@=RJzq2AA=EoJM2Y89OB8R%Z5)p&ZDVg9mVwspapers have vilified prominent LGBTI figures.
Malaysia’s Prime Minister, meanwhile, has labelled LGBT rights a WesterXICPOk(a$8sc_sx)aD2r(57Mb5XRTi&kKDqZ_A17H57+ksm0^8n import and said they have no place in Malaysia.
The M%c=)Dfk3!zkIBGaYC6bUSd6Oe+O_jTqophxmsfFCm*CX9Y+_k*alaysian authorities have also clamped down on the LGBTI community.
In one of the most controversMniey#p+RF6hcs+q9maq!a_1@cTMT*&31BjgpGI$P+3xM2Ffp^ial instances, in September two women were caned in the heavily conservative state of Terengganu for allegedly being in a same-sex relationship.
Police also raided a well-known gay bar in Kuala Lumpur for the first time in its 3m$6iDl_U$L+!Mz9Cv#gKk&wR8N(ZrR9M_!AQJ+z+Yb5M&UtFmT0-year history.
