Malaysia's
only openly gay pastor said he would go ahead with plans to wed his American
partner on his country's national day despite criticism from leaders in the
Muslim-majority nation.
Reverend Ouyang Wen Feng said the government would not be
able to disrupt his plans to marry on August 31 in New York, where same-sex
marriages were recently legalised, nor to have a Chinese wedding banquet in his
home country next year.
"Don't I have the right to invite my friends to have
meals with me in (a) restaurant in Malaysia?" Ouyang said in an email to
AFP over the weekend.
"The world is watching. Malaysia cannot afford to
jeopardise her image as a moderate country the government is trying to
portray," he added.
Homosexuality remains a largely taboo subject in Malaysia,
and sodomy is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Islamic Affairs minister Jamil Khir Baharom said earlier this
month that same-sex marriages, such as Ouyang's, were not allowed under the
country's civil laws.
"We agree with human rights, but such extremism that
allows man and man to marry will create social problems," local media
quoted Jamil as saying.
Others, such as the chief minister of a southern state and several
Christian leaders, have also condemned Ouyang's plan, according to local media.
But Ouyang said more and more Malaysians were starting to
accept homosexuality -- a "sea change in public opinion."
"Even though I know many people in Malaysia are not OK
with gay marriage, the more remarkable fact is that more and more people are
informed about what is homosexuality and the support for gay people is growing
steadily," he said.
Ouyang faced outrage and threats when he opened the first
gay-friendly church just outside Kuala Lumpur in 2007.
He now lives in the United States but regularly returns to
Malaysia and other parts of Asia to promote awareness of homosexuality.
In a recent interview with AFP, the journalist-turned-pastor
urged homosexuals in Malaysia to "keep coming out" to help battle
homophobia.
Ouyang said his partner, an African-American Broadway musical
producer, proposed to him on June 26 -- two days after New York City legalised
same-sex marriages.
Source : AFP
Online Booking Hotel
EmpireMoney
No comments:
Post a Comment