Malaysian Education Ministry Releases Hysterically Stereotypical Guidelines for Parents Looking to Detect 'Homosexual Symptoms' in Their Children
The Ministry of Education in Malaysia has upset many by officially endorsing a set of "guidelines" meant to assist parents looking to curb homosexual tendencies in their children.
Per the eight-point list, "symptoms of gays" include liking to wear V-necks and other tight-fitting, light-colored clothes that show off muscular bodies. Also a surefire sign of being gay according to the Education Ministry: "Attraction to men."
Homosexuals also likely to carry around "big handbags, similar to those used by women, when hanging out."
Lesbians are not as easy to spot as gays, according to the Ministry.
The four symptoms that out a latent lesbian are essential identical: Lesbians are "attracted to women"; "will distance themselves from other women" who are not their companions; enjoy "the company of women"; and "have no affection for men."
The guidelines, first reported by the website Malaysiakini, were released to hundreds of parents at a seminar called "Parents in Curbing LGBT Issue," which was organized by a nonprofit affiliated with the Islamic country's government.
They later received the Education Ministry's imprimatur.
"Such exposure is important and it is high time the LGBT issue is discussed openly and not think of it as a taboo," Deputy Education Minister Mohd Puad Zarkashi, who attended the seminar, is quoted as saying. "Once the children have these symptoms, immediate attention should be given."
Harsh attitudes toward the LGBT community is not unexpected in a country where sodomy remains highly illegal.
But many in Malaysia oppose the guidelines, including at least one Member of Parliament, who called on the government to cease "fanning the flames of intolerance and homophobia."
