From my understanding, it is illegal to engage in homosexual activities based on the Islamic teachings. Across the globe, it also seems illegal for Muslims to leave Islam. Gay people from Malaysia might be able to get married in non-Islamic countries, but their marriage will not be recognised when they return home. I know that some gay Muslims might struggle to accept their sexuality, considering the religious restrictions that come with this faith.
The life of a gay Moro is difficult. The eyes of our family and society are all on us. And the eyes of Islam, the religion of our upbringing, judges us heavily. In their interpretation of Islam, we are “haram”—our feelings are dirty and forbidden.
What would you do if you were born into a religion that you can never leave; where even your government and family tell you that you don’t get a choice? In my country, leaving Islam is an offence punishable by death. Good or bad, you must pray to a god in whom you have little or no faith and practice a religion which you don’t believe in. That’s the situation in which I find myself in, and there is nothing I can do about it.
A few years ago, I didn’t get it. What was the point of going for pride marches or putting on rainbow filters? If I was gay, I didn’t need everyone to know. Why was it important that Jon loved Amin? If they really loved each other, they didn’t need to prove it in public.