A camping retreat marketed as “Glamping With Pride” has become
Malaysia’s latest LGBTQ flashpoint after a poster for the event went viral, triggering outcry among Islamic authorities and a police investigation.
Jejaka, an organisation supporting gay, bisexual and queer men, said this weekend’s planned retreat was “lawful camping activities at a registered venue [that] does not violate any Malaysian law”.
“Camping, gatherings and community education are legal activities in the country,” it said in a statement, adding that the private, vetted gathering would focus on well-being and health awareness, including HIV education.
“We are not doing anything illegal, and this ‘threat’ is misplaced,” Dhia Rezki Rohaizad, Jejaka’s deputy president, told This Week in Asia.
The real risk, he said, came from “threats, misinformation and vilification”, which could “actually [be] the threat to peace”, particularly given “real and potential calls for provocations and vigilantism against us”.
Dhia said the group faced “very serious security concerns” because of social media threats to disrupt the event but vowed not to be forced into cancelling it.