BY: CHRISTOPHER FERNANDEZ

Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender or commonly known as LGBT issues need to be handled carefully and dealt with a lot of tact, sensitivity and compassion. It especially needs secular wisdom based on prevailing realities.

In Malaysia it is sheer folly to try and find an amicable solution to LGBT issues by using the front of religiosity, which in this case, is the use of Islamic thinking and being. Any religion or faith, for that matter, should not be applied to handle LGBT issues.

This is the wrong way of going about it. It also serves no purpose to debate and discuss if those who are classified in the LGBT group suffer from sexual behaviour that deviates from the norm that is based on nurturing or nature.

The fact is the LGBT community is now part and parcel of the population and this is also why they should not be marginalized, shunned or ostracised. All well meaning and right thinking Malaysians should strive to accept the LGBT community into the mainstream of society.

This acceptance of their different behaviour will go a long way towards acknowledging that there are human beings or persons whose sexual orientation is different from the largely hetrosexual activity.

By and large it is time for Malaysia to take a giant leap forward to not only accept but understand that it is foolish and unwise to come down hard and oppress the LGBT community as a person has every right to define themselves.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher