NETIZENS are up in arms over the Government’s recent confirmation that the Thor: Love and Thunder blockbuster was not approved for screening in Malaysia as it depicted gay and bisexual characters.
Yesterday (Aug 10), Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said the Film Censorship Board did not green-light the Marvel Studios film as it included lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) “elements”.
The UMNO lawmaker also said the Government is always monitoring films and social media accounts that “promote the LGBT lifestyle”, with “stern action” taken against perpetrators.
However, he said the Government can only do so much when it comes to such content from online streaming services and Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms based outside of Malaysia, like Netflix.
“LGBT is a life, not a lifestyle”
Responding to Zahidi, Twitter user @rincredible said: “LGBTQIA (QIA: queer, intersex and asexual) is a life, not a lifestyle.
“Being a hateful, prejudiced bigot is a lifestyle because that’s something you can CHOOSE to do.”
The Kuala Lumpur Queer Women Discussion Group said the “stupidity just never ends”, while history researcher Jeffery Seow called on local studios and filmmakers to make LGBT characters integral to their stories and fight “bigotry” in Malaysia:
Others questioned when Government leaders would realise sexual orientations are not lifestyle choices, and that banning individuals or platforms in support of LGBT folk was easier said than done:
Pemuda Sosialis chief Arveent Kathirtchelvan told Zahidi to “get bent”, as he repurposed a Pride month poster by Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM). PSM is arguably the only political party in Malaysia that openly supports the LGBT community.
Responding to media reports on the issue, journalist Sadho Ram said “lifestyle” should be put in air quotes since those who are LGBT are not “practicing” or “promoting” a “lifestyle” but merely living out their lives.
“High-time local news outlets start practicing common sense when quoting a politician on issues, more so on the ones about human rights,” he said in response to a related Twitter thread by a local radio station.
“We have bigger problems in Malaysia”
Others questioned the Government’s “misplaced priorities”, with one tweet aptly summarising the debate by saying: “Girl, we got bigger problems in this country”.
Some made reference to the contentious littoral combat ship (LCS) project, the current talk of the town after it was revealed that not a single ship had been completed – although the Government spent RM6 bil and five ships should have been delivered by now:
One netizen said corruption scandals in Malaysia take place because UMNO leaders like Zahidi are too concerned pushing forth “agendas and trivialities” surrounding the LGBT community instead of “doing their job” to monitor and stop corruption.
Others agreed:
Twitter user @ViggyStrdust said the decision to police online media and users for featuring LGBT-related content was resource-intensive and would likely see some public spending.
“Yet, our socialised healthcare is ‘unsustainable’,” he said, referring to the Health Ministry’s plan to review its public healthcare outpatient and specialist care fees of RM1 and RM5, respectively, after the Government recorded a 190% increase in health expenditure.
From postponement to cancellation
Thor: Love and Thunder was initially slated for screening on July 7, but later postponed to July 21. No reason was given for this.
Late last month, Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) confirmed that the blockbuster would not be screened in Malaysia, also not providing a reason.
According to media reports and snippets of the film that have made their way online, at least two characters in the movie – Valkyrie and Korg – are depicted as LGBT-identifying.
Nudity could be another reason for the local censorship of the film, after a scene from the movie depicting Thor actor Chris Hemsworth as fully naked from behind went viral.
Recently, Disney’s Lightyear film also did not get approval to be screened in Malaysia, similarly for “promoting the LGBT lifestyle”. Disney had refused to screen a censored version of the movie. – Aug 11, 2022
Main photo credit: Richersounds
