The Education Ministry-endorsed guidelines listing several sweeping "symptoms" to identify gays and lesbians may put men in awkward situations, says Seksualiti Merdeka co-founder Pang Khee Teik.
"Hey I just met you, your collar looks V, but here’s my number, so call me maybe?'" Pang said in a telephone interview withMalaysiakini.
It was reported on Wednesday that the Education Ministry had endorsed guidelines for the identification of gays and lesbians in schools, prepared by Yayasan Guru Malaysia Bhd and Putrajaya Consultative Council of Parents and Teachers Associations.
Among the "symptoms" of a gay in theguidelines are men wearing V-neck T-shirts, with a muscular built and who like to carry big handbags, similar to those carried by women.
On a serious note, Pang advised the ministry to rely on sound research instead of endorsing pseudo-experts and quacks on gays and lesbians as this could prove damaging to children.
In a Facebook statement, Pang said education was an important tool to address inequality but the ministry had instead sought to use it for teaching hate, promoting inequality and playing politics.
‘Don't bully vulnerable children'
"The Education Ministry is now officially a bully. It must stop this inhuman campaign against vulnerable children.
"Hey I just met you, your collar looks V, but here’s my number, so call me maybe?'" Pang said in a telephone interview withMalaysiakini.It was reported on Wednesday that the Education Ministry had endorsed guidelines for the identification of gays and lesbians in schools, prepared by Yayasan Guru Malaysia Bhd and Putrajaya Consultative Council of Parents and Teachers Associations.
Among the "symptoms" of a gay in theguidelines are men wearing V-neck T-shirts, with a muscular built and who like to carry big handbags, similar to those carried by women.
On a serious note, Pang advised the ministry to rely on sound research instead of endorsing pseudo-experts and quacks on gays and lesbians as this could prove damaging to children.
In a Facebook statement, Pang said education was an important tool to address inequality but the ministry had instead sought to use it for teaching hate, promoting inequality and playing politics.
‘Don't bully vulnerable children'
"The Education Ministry is now officially a bully. It must stop this inhuman campaign against vulnerable children.
"It should teach all children to be confident and to respect one another, no matter who they are.
"There are a few good books and studies out there they could read instead of relying on pseudo-experts and quacks," he said.
Proper research has shown, Pang said, that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity can result in greater harm to the children.
He pointed out that there was a high rate of suicide among many groups, including the youth and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual (LGBT) people who were forced into unhappy marriages.
Also in the high suicide rate list are members of the LGBT community who are bullied and violence is used against them.
The high rate of depression among these groups is the result of discriminatory policies.
"These wounds take generations to heal. The Education Ministry would do well to pay heed to them," Pang added.
The fact that the ministry would endorse such a guideline reflected the sinking level of education in Malaysia.
"It is clear that Malaysian education has gone down the drain. These are products of the Malaysian education system.
"The claims (guidelines) are not based on evidence or empirical observation but based on hearsay and are very insulting to intelligence," he said.
Pang said Seksualiti Merdeka was prepared to brief the Education Ministry if its officers were willing to listen to reliable research on the LGBT community.
"There are a few good books and studies out there they could read instead of relying on pseudo-experts and quacks," he said.
Proper research has shown, Pang said, that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity can result in greater harm to the children.He pointed out that there was a high rate of suicide among many groups, including the youth and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual (LGBT) people who were forced into unhappy marriages.
Also in the high suicide rate list are members of the LGBT community who are bullied and violence is used against them.
The high rate of depression among these groups is the result of discriminatory policies.
"These wounds take generations to heal. The Education Ministry would do well to pay heed to them," Pang added.
The fact that the ministry would endorse such a guideline reflected the sinking level of education in Malaysia.
"It is clear that Malaysian education has gone down the drain. These are products of the Malaysian education system.
"The claims (guidelines) are not based on evidence or empirical observation but based on hearsay and are very insulting to intelligence," he said.
Pang said Seksualiti Merdeka was prepared to brief the Education Ministry if its officers were willing to listen to reliable research on the LGBT community.
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