NYC in support for the Malaysian LGBT community following recent violent hate attacks

Protestors for LGBT Rights in Malaysia, September 2018. Photo Credit: @MalaysiaLGBTQ Twitter

FROM THEFAYTH'S MAILBAG, A NOTE FROM LGBTQ MALAYSIA

"Since last Thursday, September 27th, for three consecutive days, the streets of NY were painted in pink as a sign of support and solidarity with the LGBT community in Malaysia, as many supporters and protesters gathered in front of Malaysia's Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's hotel who was in NYC for the United Nations General Assembly.

Behind this initiative and the protest is a group of former Malaysians, volunteers and activists based in NYC, who felt that as the hate campaigns against the LGBT community are raging through Malaysia, the only hope left for the members of that community is to turn to the West and ask for its support in their struggle.

3rd day that the streets of NY in front of Dr. Mahathir’s hotel were painted in pink as a sign of support and solidarity with the LGBTQ community in Malaysia that is under #unacceptable violent attack after he declared that Malaysia will not accept their rights. @DebonairPierre pic.twitter.com/p2NnHk0hDO

— LGBTQ Malaysia (@MalaysiaLgbtq) September 29, 2018

The peaceful protestors were hoping to increase the global awareness of the violation of the human rights of the LGBT community in Malaysia and get the attention of the Western media and the public support.

Since Malaysia’s general elections on May 9, 2018, there has been a significant increase of instances of persecution, discrimination, and violent hate crime against the LGBT community.

This hostility towards LGBT is evident both from within society and from the administration.

Protest for LGBT rights in Malaysia - NYC Sep. 28, 2018 Video Credit: LGBTQ Malaysia Youtube

Within a spread of a few days, Blue Boy, a local club in Kuala Lumpur was raided by the police in attempt to mitigate the LGBT culture from spreading into the society, a transgender woman was beaten and abused in the street, a lesbian couple was publicly canned in the streets of Terengganu by the orders of the Sharia court, and the list goes on.

This behavior is encouraged and fueled by the statements of the highest-ranking governmental officials, including those of the Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad himself, who was quoted saying that “faith will save you from being gay”. 

In addition, the authorities are organizing “camps” and “seminars” with the purpose of curing the LGBT disease. There were also statements that a regulator would be set up to monitor LGBT activity online.

Last Friday, Dr. Mahathir stated that “There are certain things that we cannot accept even though it is accepted as human rights in the West. This includes LGBT and same-sex marriage”. He then added that - A couple with their own children, or even adopted children, is considered a family. But two men and two women is not considered a family.”

As state supported and sponsored homophobia is increasing, members of the LGBTQ community in Malaysia are beaten, caned, abused, humiliated and terrorized. They are deprived of their basic human rights, accused of being a social disease and are in midst of an unprecedented attack."

FOLLOW Malaysia LGBTQ on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MalaysiaLgbtq

Protestors for LGBT Rights in Malaysia, September 2018. Photo Credit: @MalaysiaLGBTQ Twitter 

Protestors for LGBT Rights in Malaysia, September 2018. Photo Credit: @MalaysiaLGBTQ Twitter

Read more about what's happening in Malaysia for LGBTQIA people:

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/09/28/zaid-id-be-pm-for-all-malaysians-including-the-lgbt-community/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/22/malaysia-accused-of-state-sponsored-homophobia-after-lgbt-crackdown
https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/08/07/malaysia-should-find-right-path-lgbt-rights
https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/2163222/lgbt-rights-new-malaysia-still-have-long-way-go-after-activists-portraits
https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/03/asia/malaysia-gay-rights-lesbian-caning-intl/index.html
https://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Malaysian-LGBT-Community-Facing-State-Funded-Homophobia-Activists-20180822-0010.html

Neil Gaiman makes statement against racebending

Awhile back I was discussing Neil Gaiman's fantastic book, American Gods with someone.

...a scary, strange, and hallucinogenic road-trip story wrapped around a deep examination of the American spirit. - Amazon.com

During the conversation, I shuddered to think that AG's lead character, Shadow, might be played by a non-biracial character as in the book, Shadow's mom is African American and his dad is Caucasian.
So I posted a query of sorts on Neil Gaiman's Facebook:


Neil himself responded to my concern saying,

I don't know about Vin, but I've asked the people doing the AMERICAN GODS TV/movie project to be very aware of Shadow's race.

This is a win folks, and my many thanks to Neil Gaiman for publicly stating that he as a creator is aware of the importance of inclusivity.  

I'd expect nothing less from the author of American Gods.  If you haven't read it yet, you need to get reading today since it's been announced that HBO is in talks with Tom Hanks production Playtone to bring American Gods to tv sets everywhere!

When I returned to the original post on Neil Gaiman's FB, I was dissapointed to see fans dismissing biracial actors like Vin Diesel or the Rock in favor of White actors like Russel Crowe, Christian Bale, Joe Manganiello, Eric Bane and Viggo Mortensen.  All of them fine White actors, White nonetheless.

Seems that our minds do re-create the realities of the world we live in, and as such any lack of cultural understanding come along for the ride.  It's even more important than ever for creators such as Neil Gaiman to support, and even insist that characters keep their color!

"Racebending" (defined) is still too common; recently Asian American community leaders approached Warner Bros about White actors playing the lead role in AKIRA!  Akira, originally a Japanese manga series originally serialized in the 1980's is set in a post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo.

An OMG moment

“Actors like Robert Pattison and Andrew Garfield have the privilege of playing iconic white characters that Asian American actors would never be considered for...When white actors are also asked to play iconic Asian characters, Asian American actors lose their shot at starring in anything.” - Racebending.com co-founder Marissa Lee


As the plans for American Gods get finalized, I will continue hoping that biracial actors are considered for this amazing role.  I'm not gonna lie, when Vin Diesel's phone number got leaked years ago, I did leave him a voice mail asking him to read American Gods!  I do think he's one of the best fits, seeing as he's a huge fantasy geek with serious acting chops that some might dismiss in preference to traditional actor of color stereotypes such as the "noble negro" or the "angry black man" (See Morgan Freeman as God in Evan Almighty and/or Denzel Washington in John Q).  Don't get me wrong, Samuel L. Jackson has done very well navigating the corridor between these types!  Still, without characters like Shadow correctly cast, we're gonna be stuck on the plane with the motherfrakkin snakes k?

At least give these great biracial actors a ring!

Vin Diesel (discovered by Steven Spielberg)

(Pitch Black, Fast and Furious, Saving Private Ryan)

Wentworth Miller (The Human Stain, Prison Break, screenwriter on upcoming "Stoker")

Jason Momoa (HBO's Game of Thrones, upcoming 2011 Conan the Barbarian)

Boris Kodjoe (Undercovers, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Surrogates)

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (Walking Tall, The Other Guys, Faster)

Thanks to BlackFlix.com's List of Multiracial Celebrities: http://www.blackflix.com/articles/multiracial.html

Pics from Uganda Anti-Gay March!

Today there is a pro killing gays march in Uganda.  What's on your agenda for today?  Support Rainbow Uganda's work by adding them as your friend on Facebook and sharing these photos from brave folks undercover on the ground!

JHud Deaths, LGBT HATE Related?

Interesting. Jennifer Hudson's sister wrote today on her Myspace regarding the tragic turn of events:

"When I started my MySpace all of the above was true, now because I chose to do what was natural to me and love someone, it cost me my beautiful family," she writes.

"It cost me my beautiful, loving, supporting mother Darnell, my true blue baby brother Jason - I love you baby – and last but not never least, my only son Julian, my innocent baby..."

"[Julian's] soul is at ease," Julia writes. "I take comfort in knowing that Julian is with my mother and my brother and most of all the Lord, and now he's my angel, he's protecting me."

If you recall, back in the day when Dreamgirls came out, Jennifer Hudson clarified her comments regarding queerness saying:

I have said again and again that it was the gay community that supported me long before and long after AMERICAN IDOL, and kept me working and motivated. It is the gay community that celebrated my voice and my size and my personality long before DREAMGIRLS. Yes, I was raised Baptist. Yes, I was taught that the Bible has certain views on homosexuality. The Bible also teaches us not to judge. It teaches us to love one another as God loves us all. I love my sister, my two best friends and my director dearly. They happen to be gay." - Gawker, 12/07/06

I thought it was a great response, and I was really glad to hear that she was bringing the love. I can't imagine the pain of losing the majority of your immediate family to domestically related gun violence. I hope peace and love will settle around the Hudsons carrying them through this tough time.

Rashawn Brazell

I still think it's important to point out that these murders could be LGBT HATE related. Such things happen in the LGBT community when folks come out and live as they love. It's a sad truth in the lives of the African American LGBT, where violence and homophobia often mix to disasterous results (Sakia Gunn, Rashawn Brazell). I would rather this was a sad horrible senseless random act of violence, but if it is related to LGBT HATE it needs to be news. It could help save a life.

Sakia Gunn Memorial

For resources if you're living with these troubles or in fear, please contact The Rape Abuse Incest National Network (RAINN). When I was growing up in a abuse filled household, RAINN got me help and even helped me get declared independent so I got financial aid allowing me to attend UCLA.

1-800-656-HOPE
http://www.rainn.org/

Remember to vote No on 8.

The Bi Is Back!

I asked a question, in desperation. Like sand skipping unnaturally back into the sea, bisexuality is disappearing. A famous celeb declares love for a woman, as she has for men before and a biological reality isn't even broached. Tila Tequila cements bisexuality as a culture, as a way of living and not a life. Words Matter and I'm screaming them from the proverbial rooftops.

I'm really thankful Ted C. of E! Online posted my question in the first place and sparked up a conversation, kicking some folks into gear within our own bisexual community. To me that is the work of an ally. An ally is not necessarily me, they don't always say it the way I would want but they help get us closer. Use the chance to educate and invigorate! Sure, we attack ourselves and allies before rushing out the door in the right way, but eventually righteous fire finds it's true mark. Perhaps some saw the poll as a last straw, but I think that's an unconscious way to look at it. The poll represents reality, what are you doing to change someone's mind about that if you disagree? Folks, including Ted C. I might add, worked years to help change opinion on same sex marriage and the need for visibility (have you forgotten Toothy Tile?)

Bisexuals have to and are doing the same, and we must keep trying.

In response to the poll, and with great love I sent this to Ted:

Sorry that my half hearted attempt to question the lack of "bisexual option" for La Lohan turned some bisexuals on the wrong way.
"or as "out & proud" Sheela Lambert notes ". . . there is one for haters and two for heteroflexible girls. I dont want to sign up as either an experimenter or dating a girl until I meet the right guy. I have been out as bi for over 30 years and have dated both guys, women and transgender people" - Bialogue

So how about it Ted, feel like adding a button? There's No and Maybe, but no definitive Yes is there? Remember we're not exactly a highway from one orientation to the next, but more of a welcome mat of goodness. Step gently?

He replied in the affirmative, respectfully and warmly so. Folks out there may not know E!, may not have spent the years chilling with Talk Soup, adoring Anna Nicole, or incorporating a good amount of TEDSPEAK into their vocabulary. Personally, I'm proud that Ted is one of my biggest influences as a writer, all that casual wit and sarcastic sweetness in a shiny hunk of a package to boot. He's like the Douglas Adams of Gossip and lucky for US, he came out years and years ago. He got married and has held the queer flag in high profile for plenty a day. I think that should count for a damn lot.

Me, myself, I consider myself a bisexual activist -- I reclaim the word, and see myself as two and whole at the same time. STILL I'VE NEVER BEEN ARRESTED FOR TRYING TO ENTER A CHURCH THAT DON'T LIKE QUEERS, HAVE YOU?


This is some horrid stuff, cants believe it would happen in October of 2008. Wait, I can.

From Lauren Parke*,

The Director of Safety from Palm Beach Atlantic University read a statement as we gathered outside the school's chapel on Monday, October 13, 2008. "You are unwanted guests." Fully aware that handcuffs were waiting, six of us then stepped forward, persisting in our intention to attend the morning service there. Arris and Lindsay, two students whom we'd spoken with extensively the day before, had been so certain we would be allowed in that they even promised to sit with us. Tears streamed down their faces as the police slipped zip-ties around our wrists and loaded us into their van. Our fellow Riders held hands and tried to hold back their own tears as they sung, "Just As I Am."

What are you doing today? When's the last time you made a stand? Sent an email, took action, let someone know how you feel and/or made a ruckus?

Do Something. Today. Stand for bisexuality, for same sex marriage, for Obama, and healing the world as we recognize all of the diversity still striving within.

*(disclosure:Best almost-a-date I ever had)

I love the smell of cultural phenomena in the morning

The hearts ping and pang for Heath, and the Joker lives on...Unless you happen to post about "Jokerization" on Wikipedia. I tried. (see if it's yanked yet)

Was a day, it'd stick for a month or year if you'd believe it. I feel old.


sauce - ONTD