Malaysian Government Urges Use of "Deviant Culture" Term Instead of "LGBT"

Malaysia’s Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Marhamah Rosli, has urged the public to stop using the acronym “LGBT” to avoid “normalizing” the queer community. Instead, it is proposed to use the term budaya songsang, which translates to “deviant” or “perverted culture.”

According to Rosli, replacing the term is intended to affect the algorithms of social networks and online platforms to restrict the spread of LGBT-related content. As reported by LGBTQ Nation , the government announced the implementation of these changes at an official level.

The human rights organization Justice for Sisters condemned the initiative, stating that the use of such terminology dehumanizes LGBT people and fuels violence and discrimination. Amnesty International representatives in Malaysia also criticized the authorities’ decision, noting that such statements legitimize hatred toward a vulnerable group of the population.

In recent years, pressure on the LGBT community in Malaysia has intensified. According to Justice for Sisters, 307 LGBT individuals were arrested in the country in 2025. In February 2026, the authorities blocked access to the dating apps Grindr and Blued. Homosexual relations in Malaysia are criminalized and can be punished by up to 20 years in prison, as well as corporal punishment.