By Thomas English
Zulkifli Hasan, Malaysia’s minister for religious affairs, said Tuesday that work stress can push people into homosexuality — a claim that triggered a wave of online mockery and criticism.
In a written reply submitted to Parliament of Malaysia, the minister listed “work stress” as one of several supposed drivers of LGBT behavior while answering a question from opposition lawmaker Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, according to the South China Morning Post. (RELATED: Virginia Democrats Move To Embed ‘Transgender And Queer’ History Across Kids’ Curriculum)
“Societal influence, sexual experiences, work stress and other personal factors come under this category [of possible causes],” Zulkifli said in the parliamentary response, the Morning Post reported.
A woman watches television on display at a shop as Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announces the dissolution of parliament as he addresses the nation during a live telecast, in Bentong, Malaysia’s Pahang state, on October 10, 2022. Image not from story. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images)
The South China Morning Post reported the minister cited a 2017 study he referred to as “Sulaiman et al,” claiming those factors “can contribute to the increase in LGBT acts.” The outlet did not publish the full text of the parliamentary reply in the excerpt provided in its report.
Zulkifli also made similar remarks in a televised interview earlier in the week, according to the Bangkok Post, which reported he argued exhaustion from overwork can “dominate” the mind and “potentially” lead to changes in sexual orientation.
Online, Malaysians ridiculed the claim, with one joke — “Tomorrow the whole country should take a day off—otherwise everyone will turn gay” — spreading as a meme, the Bangkok Post reported.
