Engineer unfazed by anti-gay criticism, death threats
Azwan's video clip titled "Saya gay, saya okay', attracted 116,127 views and 2,500 comments - many of them virulent - when it was uploaded on Seksualiti Merdeka's YouTube channel.
Seksualiti Merdeka is an annual festival on sexuality organised by a coalition of non-governmental organisations.
Seksualiti Merdeka is an annual festival on sexuality organised by a coalition of non-governmental organisations.
This coalition's latest video project, "It Gets Better in Malaysia," has inadvertently turned Azwan into a target for Islamic authorities and conservatives in general, despite the campaign's positive message.
Azman's entry was singled-out from the line-up of 15 contributors to the project and reposted on various online media without his consent, but he did not let it faze him.
"I expected these one-sided comments, but perhaps not to the extent of making death threats. We are only exposed to one point of view on homosexuality," he said when contacted. "I feel there is not enough Malay voices talking about homosexuality."
He has no regrets because his video also attracted the attention of young people in similar situations, who felt uplifted by his message.
The nearly three-minute long video saw Azwan, who is also a writer, saying: "I am confident that things will be better. We have to gather our strengths from around us because there people who can help us and give us the confidence to be ourselves, to face our future..."
Seksualiti Merdeka coordinator Pang Khee Teik said the project was brought to Malaysia to highlight the importance of the message and relevance to the country's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community.
Pang also expressed disappointment over the "intolerant and vicious comments" made against Azwan, including one that said he should repent, and others which threatened him with violence and death.
"It is strange to read that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom had asked the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) to monitor the activities of gay groups, but did not also ask them to supervise Muslims who post abusive and vulgar comments," he said.
Last week, Jamil Khir, when asked to comment about the video, had directed Jakim to monitor groups practicing abnormal sexual activities (seks songsang).
"We want their activities to be closely monitored by the authorities, and appropriate preventive actions to be taken, because it could taint the sanctity of Islam," said Jamil Khir, who added that homosexuality is not allowed in Islam.
Among the campaign's supporters include writer and film-maker Amir Muhammad.
"Some people aren't appalled by Azwan Ismail's sexuality. What they are affronted by is that he is a person who is giving his own name, and being completely honest about what he wants to say," Amir told theSun.
On a larger scale, other supporting groups include the PT Foundation, an NGO that works with communities affected by HIV.
PTF acting executive director Raymond Tai said, on average, about 30 to 40% of the calls received by the foundation are related to gender and sexuality issues.
"They are looking for a way to resolve the turmoil and conflict they face due to their sexual orientation," said Tai. -- theSun
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