Malaysia halts music pageant after same-sex kiss by UK band The 1975
2 min read
By Reuters: Malaysia’s authorities halted a music pageant within the capital Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, a day after the frontman of British pop rock band The 1975 kissed a male bandmate onstage and criticised the nation’s anti-LGBT legal guidelines.
“There will be no compromise against any party that challenges, disparages and violates Malaysian laws,” Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil stated in a Twitter publish after assembly with the organisers of the Good Vibes Festival, a three-day occasion set to run till Sunday.
The 1975 has additionally been banned from performing in Malaysia, stated a authorities committee that oversees filming and performances by foreigners.
Homosexuality is a criminal offense in Muslim-majority Malaysia. Rights teams have warned of rising intolerance towards the nation’s lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and transgender folks.
In movies posted on social media on Friday evening, Healy was seen kissing bassist Ross MacDonald after criticising the Malaysian authorities’s stance towards homosexuality in a profanity-laden speech to the pageant viewers.
He stated the band had thought-about pulling out of the present however didn’t wish to disappoint their followers in Malaysia.
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“I made a mistake. When we were booking shows, I wasn’t looking into it,” he stated. “I don’t see the fucking point… of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with.”
Healy later reduce quick the set, telling the group: “All right, we gotta go. We just got banned from Kuala Lumpur, I’ll see you later.”
The band couldn’t instantly be reached for remark. Healy was criticised for kissing a male fan at a 2019 live performance within the United Arab Emirates, which additionally has legal guidelines towards gay acts, based on media stories.
In a press release, Good Vibes organisers stated the band’s set was stopped as a result of “non-compliance with local performance guidelines”.
Communications Minister Fahmi stated Malaysia was dedicated to supporting the event of inventive industries and freedom of expression.
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“However, never touch on the sensitivities of the community, especially those that are against the traditions and values ââof the local culture,” he stated.
The incident comes earlier than essential regional elections that can pit Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s progressive coalition towards a principally conservative ethnic-Malay, Muslim alliance, which has accused Anwar’s authorities of not doing sufficient to guard the rights of Muslims within the multiracial nation.
The premier has repeatedly stated this month that his authorities would uphold ideas of Islam, state media reported. He has stated his administration is not going to recognise LGBT rights.
In May, Malaysian authorities confiscated watches made by the Swiss firm Swatch from its “Pride collection”, which celebrates LGBT rights.
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