Activists say attitudes are changing, but many Malaysians still hide their sexuality or gender identity and live in fear of being found out.Īgainst this backdrop, online spaces have provided refuge. And it is still active the law was used to prosecute opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim just six years ago.Ī much-cited 2013 study by the Pew Research Center found that just 9% of Malaysians believed society should accept homosexuality. Same-sex relations, for example, remain punishable by whipping and up to 20 years in prison under a law dating back to a period when Malaysia was a colony of Great Britain.

But a conservative strand of Islam remains both the dominant religion and a major cultural force, shaping the politics and policies that dictate the lives of the country’s LGBTQ citizens. Malaysia’s population is highly multicultural, with a mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian ethnicities. At the same time, online participation leaves them exposed to censorship, surveillance, and attack by those who see these flourishing communities as an attempt to undermine conservative Muslim values and sway Malaysia “from the right path.” On the one hand, they have created invaluable opportunities for LGBTQ people to connect, communicate, and advocate for their rights.