Netizens are organising a ‘National V-neck Day’ to oppose guidelines that are purported to help identify symptoms of homosexuality.
The event, being organised on Facebook , is slated for Oct 1. As of noon today, more than 1,700 people had pledged their support.
“I love wearing V-necks. Now they are being discriminated against. So are my friends. Let’s wear V-necks to show our love for V-necks and to support our friends.
“Share and spread the message. We do not tolerate bullies and stereotyping. Definitely do not tolerate the fact that our friends are being treated like criminals,” the Facebook page says.
It also encouraged women to wear a cap if they were not comfortable wearing V-necks.
Sin Chew Daily reported last week that the Education Ministry has endorsed the guidelines drawn up by the NGOs Yayasan Guru Malaysia Bhd and Putrajaya Consultative Council of Parents and Teachers Associations.
Among others, the symptoms for being gay include wearing tight, light coloured clothing and a penchant for showing-off their muscular bodies through wearing V-neck or sleeveless clothes, the guidelines state.
For lesbians, the purported symptoms include distancing themselves from other women besides their partners.
The guidelines warn that children displaying these symptoms should be given immediate attention.
Guidelines heavily criticised
The guidelines had been heavily criticised for being prejudicial and discriminatory, including by the Malaysian Aids Council , Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transsexual (LGBT) activist Pang Khee Teik , and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar .
The Education Ministry has since denied endorsing the guidelines, but maintained that it views the cases of ‘social ills’ seriously.
Meanwhile, Yayasan Guru Malaysia Bhd said what it issued were not guidelines but an ‘awareness campaign’ .
This was despite the fact that the guidelines were launched by Deputy Education Minister Mohd Puad Zarkashi, where Sinar Harian quoted him as saying that being aware of the symptoms of gays and lesbians is the best way to stop it from spreading among students.
Meanwhile, LGBT news portal Gay Star News quoted Malaysian gay pastor Ngeo Boon Lin as endorsing the event.
“Singapore has Pink Dot (pro-LGBT rights rally), we Malaysians can have our National Wear V- neck day on Oct 1! No matter where u are, who u are, what u are, straight or gay, Wear V-neck on Oct 1,” Ngeo is reported as saying.