Malaysia government officially changes term ‘LGBT’ to ‘deviant culture’

Malaysia’s government is set to stop using the term “LGBT” in favour of the Malay term “budaya songsang”, which translates as “deviant culture”. The news was shared by a government official this week.

In February this year, Marhamah Rosli, the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), said that replacing “LGBT” with something else will influence online algorithms from showing LGBTQ+ content in the country, and therefore prevent the “normalisation” of queer culture.

Speaking during a Parliament session, she said: “The more we utter, write, or state [‘LGBT’], the more ‘pop-out’ content related to it will appear. Without realising it, we are promoting the culture unknowingly.”

Malaysia has a Muslim-majority population, but the country is not as strict as others in its approach to Islamic laws. However, Malaysian LGBTQ+ people have long faced harsh persecution.

Male-male and male-female anal sex is criminalised by federal law, and can result in 20 years imprisonment with caning, fines and deportation. In State Shariah law, both gay and lesbian sex are illegal for Muslims in all states and federal territories, except Pahang.

The country holds no protections, such as anti-discrimination laws or the right to change one’s legal gender, for LGBTQ+ people.

‘It contributes directly to violence, discrimination, and violations of dignity and equality’

Malaysian LGBTQ+ advocacy organisation Justice for Sisters reported that 307 queer people were arrested in the country under both federal and state laws in 2025 alone.

Justice for Sisters responded to the recent term change in a statement.

“The term ‘budaya songsang’ dehumanises LGBT people, fuels misinformation, and reinforces the dangerous belief that LGBT people should be ‘corrected,’” the statement reads.

“It contributes directly to violence, discrimination, and violations of dignity and equality under Articles 5 and 8 of the Federal Constitution.”

Amnesty International Malaysia’s campaigner Qistina Johari also spoke out about the change. “We strongly condemn this appalling decision by the government,” Johari said.

“When public officials label LGBTI people as ‘deviant’, they are not upholding morality — they are legitimising hate and discrimination against a highly vulnerable group. Words from those in power carry weight and real-world consequences.”

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