What’s in a V-neck T-shirt?
For some, it’s just another article of clothing. Some love wearing them. Yet for others like yours truly, it really isn’t part of their fashion sense. What could possibly be so intriguing about V-necks which moves me to write a whole article about them?
I have to admit that I found some nice ones at Cotton On the other day, and I actually bought a couple. Besides, my favourite football (soccer) team’s jersey is kind of V-necked.
Anyway.
The V-neck T-shirt has been the subject of attention and scrutiny in Malaysia for the past couple of weeks as it has been considered a symptom of homosexuality by some quarters.
A list of guidelines was launched at a seminar officiated by our Deputy Education Minister, titled “Parenting in addressing the issue of LGBTs (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders).” These guidelines were designed to help parents identify symptoms of homosexuality in their children so this “issue” could be nipped in the bud.
Among those guidelines are:
Gays:
- Have muscular bodies and love showing them off by wearing V-neck T-shirts or sleeveless shirts
- Prefer tight and light coloured clothes
- Attracted towards men
- Carry big handbags not unlike those used by women
Lesbians:
- Are attracted to women
- Distance themselves from women besides their female companions
- Enjoy hanging out, eating and sleeping in the company of women
- Are not attracted to men
Brilliant in its observations and insights into the complexities of the LGBT community, as you can see. The guidelines further warn that once children display these symptoms, immediate attention should be given.
The Education Ministry has since vehemently denied endorsing these guidelines, but the damage has already been done. These guidelines have been picked up by news agencies as near as Singapore and as far as America. Silly as it may be, it is not a trivial matter.
Firstly, this leads to unnecessary stereotyping, and especially in schools. Schoolgoers will be scrutinising their peers in an attempt to suss out those who might be gay or lesbian. And this scrutiny will lead to stereotyping. Stereotyping will lead to prejudice. Prejudice will lead to bullying. Do we place our kids in school to learn to become better people, or do we place them there to teach them bigotry, intolerance and stereotyping?
LGBT* people here don’t enjoy the same rights as those in Europe or America. While homosexuality isn’t criminalised in Malaysia, those convicted of oral or anal sex could be punished with a jail sentence of up to 20 years.
In July our Prime Minister proclaimed in front of a crowd of more than 11,000 imams and mosque committee members that LGBTs were against Islam and it was compulsory for them to fight this.
Our annual sexuality rights festival, Seksualiti Merdeka, was banned last year on the grounds that it was a threat to public order. The festival includes workshops, talks, stage performances, an art exhibition and book launches. Clearly, dangerous stuff.
Yet there are the occasional glimmers of hope.
A brave soul named Adam started an event in Facebook called the National Wear V-neck Day. It takes a stand against bullies and stereotyping. People will wear V-necks and gather in the capital on Sunday, September 30th, as a mark of solidarity, and also wear V-necks on Monday, October 1st, posting photos on the Facebook page.
This might be a simple gesture of support and solidarity, but it has been enough to elicit a response from our Deputy Education Minister. He claims that the organisers of this event are being unreasonable and taking the LGBT issue too lightly.
As of the time of writing this piece, close to 3,000 people have indicated their attendance for this event.
It has even received international attention where a group of organisations in the Philippines, including the Metropolitan Community Church of Metro Baguio, have launched their own International V-neck Day. Posts of support have also been received from all the way in England, and this is very encouraging.
So I implore you, wherever you are, regardless of your fashion sense, please wear a V-neck T-shirt and post your photo on the Facebook page on October 1 in solidarity with us, your Malaysian LGBT* brothers and sisters, and as a stand against stereotyping, discrimination and bigotry.
—
Photo credit : ive been angry lately by Kevin Cortopassi, cc.
For further reading:
FMT News: Govt Endorses Guide on How to Spot Gays
Facebook, National Wear V-Neck Day
The Malaysian Insider: Ministry says did not green light gay-spotting guide
FMT News: Seksualiti Merdeka ban against 1Malaysia
The Malaysian Insider: Najib: LGBTs, liberalism, pluralism are enemies of Islam
[author]
PEN T. COSTAL is a regular guy from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia who has just discovered his ability to string words together. When not at his day job, or serving his church as a cell-group leader, he enjoys photography, good conversation and travel, though not necessarily in that order. He also daydreams about finding his life partner and husband. (“Pen” is obviously not his real name, but IMPACTmagazine has agreed to protect his identity.)
[/author]