Government minister mocked for claiming work stress turns people gay
No, work stress won’t turn you gay (Stock image, Getty Images)
No, work stress won't turn you gay (Stock image, Getty Images)
Malaysia’s religious affairs minister has been hit with backlash for claiming that work-related stress can turn people gay.
On Tuesday (27 January), Zulkifli Hasan, responding to a question asking for updated LGBTQ+ trends in Malaysia, claimed that work stress was among several factors allegedly contributing to people adopting an “LGBTQ+ lifestyle”.
He said factors such as social environment, sexual experiences, work-related stress and personal circumstances contribute to a person being LGBTQ+.
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As per the Indian Express, Hasan added that “insufficient religious practice” could be another factor, before he noted that from 2022 to 2025, a total of 135 cases related to LGBTQ+ activities were recorded as arrests or prosecutions.
‘This is misinformation’
His comments sparked widespread backlash, with Thilaga Sulathireh of LGBTQ+ rights group Justice for Sisters calling out the claims as “misinformation”.
Thilaga told This Week in Asia: “This misinformation reinforces the assumption that LGBT people’s sexual orientation and gender identity can be corrected, changed or are not real or as valid as cisgender heterosexual identities.
“The fact is diversity in sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics is completely natural and normal. This has been proven by medical and other bodies. The minister must retract and correct the misinformation.”
‘That’s a wild claim’
In response to a post reporting on Hasan’s comments, an X user wrote: “Homophobia just like its cousins xenophobia, racism, tribalism, sexism are so idiotic. How does a person who believe they are sane come up with this c***? Crazy”
A different user wrote: “That’s a wild claim — he’s basically saying stress and lack of sleep somehow turn people gay.”
Homosexuality has been illegal in Malaysia since the 1800s and is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a fine and caning. Censorship is commonplace and state-enforced, using clauses from the 1984 Printing Presses and Publications Act. Films, TV and media containing LGBTQ+ themes are strictly prohibited.
In November last year, animated series Santiago of the Seas was pulled from airways in Malaysia after viewers complained about “LGBTQ+ content”.
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