Homosexual guidelines may lead to discrimination, say experts
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — Children identified as homosexuals or lesbians under controversial guidelines endorsed by the Ministry of Education may become victims of discrimination or, worse, violence, two child mental health experts have weighed in.
Clinical psychologist Farah Gulamoydeen said these students may become victims of prejudice but this time the discrimination will be worse as it is “legit” due to the official endorsement.
“This mental state is certainly unhealthy for any child in their formative years and will affect their adulthood,” she told The Malaysian Insider.
Putrajaya has endorsed a list of identifiable gay and lesbian traits aimed at helping parents nip in the bud homosexual tendencies among children and has been holding seminars pushing this line of thinking.
The list, published by Chinese-language Sin Chew Daily last week, described gay men as having muscular bodies which they liked to show off by wearing V-neck and sleeveless tops, and having a preference for tight and light-coloured clothing, are attracted to men and like carrying big handbags similar to those used by women.
Lesbians were said to be attracted to women, liked to eat, sleep and hang out in the company of other women and have no affection for men, according to the report.
This list was distributed to parents and schools to help them identify these traits among students and so prevent the spread of homosexuality among teenagers.
Gulamoydeen said the guidelines, published by the Yayasan Guru Malaysia Berhad and Putrajaya Consultative Council of Parents and Teachers Association, should instead embrace diversity.
“It is a more positive and productive approach as opposed to singling out particular groups,” she added.
She also said they should have consulted psychologists “who are not biased or have strong, imposing, religious inclinations” when working on the guidelines.
“Because I am aware of registered counsellors who think being gay is a disease and they can counsel one out of being gay,” she added.
She said since 1986 homosexuality was no longer listed as a mental disorder.
Asked about corrective therapy, another clinical psychologist Edward Chan told The Malaysian Insider that homosexuality was not a disorder or a disease and so required no treatment.
“What we do is to give therapy for people to adjust and help adapt to their condition,” he said.
“Religion aside, why does it matter?” another clinical psychologist said.
He added that the guidelines were unfair and “too encompassing.”
“Not all guys who wear V-necks are gay, they could be metrosexual,” he added, referring to heterosexual men who care about their appearance.
He said homosexuality was only a problem “if the individual thinks it’s a problem.”
“Only then, if there is some concern, individual assessments would be done,” he told The Malaysian Insider.