Malaysia Warning: How To Spot Gays

The Malaysian government has issued a guide for parents on the warning signs that their children might have the gay.

The Ministry of Education in Malaysia has endorsed guidelines to help parents tell if their children are gay or lesbian. Malaysiakini reports that the list of ‘symptoms’ for gay men includes stereotypes such as: ‘Have a muscular body and like to show their body by wearing V-neck and sleeveless clothes,’ ‘Prefer tight and light-coloured clothes,’ and ‘like to bring big handbags, similar to those used by women, when hanging out.’ The list of ‘warning’ signs for lesbians are less superficial. Potential lesbians apparently ‘distance themselves from other women… besides their female companions’, ‘like to hang out, have meals and sleep in the company of women’ and ‘have no affection for men’.

Homosexuality is illegal in Malaysia. Two years ago the official state film agency ruled that gay characters can only be portrayed if they “repent or die” before the movie ends.