12 Men Arrested at Gay Party Over Condoms and HIV Meds

Rising Tensions and Crackdowns on LGBTQ+ Communities in Malaysia

Malaysia has seen a significant increase in anti-LGBTQ+ actions, with recent events highlighting the growing hostility towards the community. In the Malaysian state of Kelantan, police arrested 12 men during a raid on what was described as a “gay party.” This incident follows a similar crackdown in June when 20 individuals were detained in the state capital of Kota Bharu. These arrests are part of a broader national trend of targeting LGBTQ+ people.

According to the Kelantan state police chief, Mohd Yusof Mamat, no evidence of sexual activity was found at the party. However, officers discovered condoms and HIV medication, which suggested that sexual activity may have occurred later. Additionally, three men were found to have explicit adult images on their phones and were charged accordingly. Despite these findings, no further arrests were made due to a lack of incriminating evidence or specific charges.

Mamat also mentioned that during interrogations, attendees admitted to being part of a homosexual group. He expressed concern over such behavior and stated that authorities will continue monitoring the movements of homosexual groups. Over 100 local men attended the party, though most had left by the time the raid began.

Malaysia’s anti-gay laws have roots in British colonial rule, and in modern times, powerful Muslim clerics and politicians have used these laws to rally support among conservative citizens. The country has witnessed an increase in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment, which has become more pronounced and dangerous.

In 2023, the Malaysian government reportedly introduced emergency “kill switches” for music venues following an onstage same-sex kiss between members of the British rock band The 1975 at a festival. Authorities also announced background checks on foreign artists to ensure they do not promote illegal activities.

In 2022, 20 local Muslims were detained during a raid on an LGBTQ+ Halloween party for cross-dressing or “encouraging vice.” Between 2020 and May 2024, LGBTQ+ content accounted for half of all banned publications, according to reports from the South China Morning Post.

The country has a history of harsh punishments for same-sex relationships. In 2019, four men were caned for having a consensual same-sex encounter. They were discovered after authorities monitored their private messaging. Around 50 officers raided the apartment where the men met to arrest those involved.

In March 2019, Tourism Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi claimed there are no queer or trans people in Malaysia, a statement that drew widespread condemnation from the LGBTQ+ community. Despite this, the country still hosts an annual Seksualiti Merdeka (Independent Sexuality) festival, although politicians have increasingly tried to prevent it from occurring.

Since 2019, multiple trans women in Malaysia have been beaten, hospitalized, or killed by violent mobs. In August 2018, police raided the gay bar Blue Boy, and the Federal Territory ministry claimed the arrests were meant to “stop the spread of LGBTQ culture in society.” That same month, two women were sentenced to public caning for “attempted sexual relations.”

In June 2017, the country’s health department offered cash prizes for making anti-LGBTQ videos. The following month, a hardline national Muslim group told its 50,000 members to oppose Starbucks for its pro-LGBTQ workplace policies. In the same year, an 18-year-old boy was beaten with helmets, burned, shot in the groin, and declared brain dead by medical authorities—his classmates attacked him for being “effeminate.”

Malaysia has a long history of suppressing LGBTQ+ representation. In 2013, the government sponsored a touring musical titled Asmara Songsang (Abnormal Desire) to teach young people about the dangers of being queer. In 2015, Human Rights Watch criticized Malaysia for fining and imprisoning transgender women.

In 2012, the country banned gay characters from all national TV shows and radio programs. In 2011, 66 Muslim teenage boys were sent to a correctional camp to learn “masculine behaviors” after teachers identified them as “effeminate.” These actions reflect a persistent pattern of discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ+ community in Malaysia.