Handsome young man's torso

The global homosexual population has grown by leaps and bounds over the past two decades. Some observers point to the emergence of social media for the prevalence of gay tolerance and less hostility toward homosexuals around the world.

Gay dating app Grindr has quickly grown to over 2 million LGBT subscribers. But one country where homosexuality is still illegal is Malaysia. Grindr is outlawed there, as are open displays of homosexuality in the streets.

Man in Gym Massaging Shoulders

An article by Sinar Harian features a list of physical attributes to look for to spot gay men.

The article states gay men:

  • Tend to have facial beards

  • Love going to the gym (to look at other men)

  • Prefer brand name clothing and shoes

  • Wear tight t-shirts to ‘show off their six-packs’

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    The writer also included a list of features to spot lesbians:

  • Tend to hug each other

  • Hold hands, and talk about how much they hate men

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    The article quoted a religious preacher Hanafiah Malik, who warned that homosexuality is on the increase in Malaysia. He blames gay rights groups for championing LGBT rights, saying there is an urgent need to stop the trend.

    As a result of Malaysia’s strict anti-gay laws, the incidences of attacks against LGBT people have increased recently.

    An 18-year-old student was beaten and burned to death last year by classmates who said he was gay.

    A few months later, a 27-year-old transgender person was stabbed and shot three times at his floral shop.

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