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Shagrilla Raid: Three steps forward, one step back
Qadirah Stephens
Other than reading 3 books at a time, you can find Qadirah over-analysing pop culture in her writing or sipping teh tarik.
The impending GE15 sends us a beacon of light, a glimmer of hope at change and progression, especially as we, the youth, are finally given the voice and opportunity to vote for a better Malaysia. When we think of this time, we should think of liberation and freedom for all; freedom to vote, freedom from labels, and to be ourselves and to present ourselves in the ways we wish.
With all the excitement and positivity leading up to this election, we can’t ignore the negativity and persecution our country still faces. The RexKL raid by authorities on the 29th of October shows our human rights back home being regressed. In this day and age, we’d like to think that as a country with such diverse cultures and appreciation for these differences, we’d be past the point of exclusion, persecuting minorities, and making those who are systematically unsafe feel even more unrest.
It goes without saying discrimination is alive and well in every corner of the world, and our country, Malaysia, is far from exempt. The extent of discrimination against LGBT folks and their allies proved itself on the night of the raid. Shagrilla, a private drag queen Halloween party, was raided, resulting in the arrest of over 20 people. For what reason? For dressing according to the theme of the party. As it happened, some were cross-dressing and some were in drag in the private space. At this point, there is less of a question of self-expression being asked, but more of the question of dressing for an event. It is almost certain that the same would not have happened had the event not been organised and attended by people of the LGBT community and their allies.
Since the 2018 election, the LGBT community has been put at higher risk as authorities tightened how they enforce laws against same-sex couples. Being a Muslim country, it is no surprise that this is the case. The question is: Why? Why must these laws affect private partygoers dressing for the occasion? Is it so offensive for the country to have people dressing the way they want in private? Beyond that, why must these laws affect the day-to-day lives of people who choose to present themselves in the way they want; for people who simply want to love the people they love? The issue is that authorities use their power to persecute minority groups in private settings further. Their rights are being infringed on; their freedoms to live normally are limited.
Event attendees have spoken on the power play used between the authorities and those being detained, the use of threats and intimidation for those already in a vulnerable position. Aside from being separated by race and gender, activist Numan Afifi shared that guests were subject to demeaning questions by authorities at their arrest. Questions included but were not limited to “What was the condition of your clothes when you were arrested?” and “Have you had unnatural sex?” These questions only exacerbate harmful stereotypes against the LGBT community and further demean and dehumanise them, and it is these attitudes that keep them at risk. Questions like these deepen the separation within our communities, making it impossible for Malaysians to unite as one.
What is there to say about this topic that we don’t already know? Partygoers were separated by gender and, even further, separated by race. Race. In 2022, there is little reason to separate by race, especially if this separation is to determine who gets what punishment and to what extent. For those who may be under the belief that this event doesn’t concern them, it does. It concerns the rights and safety of a marginalised group in Malaysia. It concerns the power plays between civilians and authorities. It concerns the direction in which our country is going, and therefore, it concerns us as citizens of a country.
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