Relationship between religious background, intergroup contact and acceptance of LGBT in Malaysia

Attitudes towards homosexuality have been found to vary with religious background and contact with LGBT individuals. Intergroup contact may result in more favourable attitudes towards homosexuality and research has suggested that the people who are more open to gender non-conformity may be young, female and non-religiously affiliated. However, in the Malaysian context, the degree of acceptance towards 
\nLGBT in relation to religious background and intergroup contact is not well understood. The study examined the relationship between religious background, intergroup contact and acceptance of LGBT in Malaysia. The specific objectives of the study are to determine: (1) the level of intergroup contact with LGBT individuals for respondents from different religious backgrounds; (2) the degree of acceptance towards LGBT individuals for respondents from 
\ndifferent religious backgrounds; and (3) relationship 
\nbetween intergroup contact and acceptance towards LGBT individuals. The questionnaire data were from 364 heterosexual Malaysian respondents from various age, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. The results showed that about half of respondents have direct contact with LGBT individuals as in having close friends who are LGBT or knowing a LGBT couple but very few have attended a marriage ceremony for LGBT couples, are in a romantic relationship with LGBT individuals or are LGBT themselves. A majority of the respondents know the challenges of LGBT individuals through reading about them but few have taken active steps to express public support for LGBT. The respondents can 
\naccept it if they found out their friends, neighbours, 
\ncolleagues, educators and close relatives are LGBT but 
\nare not as tolerant if their child or religious leader is 
\nInternational Journal of Social Science Research
\neISSN: 2710-6276 | Vol. 4, No. 1, 339-354, 2022
\nhttp://myjms.mohe.gov.my/index.php/ijssr340
\nCopyright © 2022 ACADEMIA INDUSTRY NETWORKS. All rights reserved.
\n1. Introduction
\nLesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) individuals often hide their sexual orientation 
\nbecause of the prevalence of heteronormative behaviour in the society (Mkhize et al., 2020). 
\nOn social media, for example, there are hate speech and violent comments which cause anxiety, 
\ndepression and stress to LGBT individuals (Hubbard, 2020). Over the years, acceptance 
\ntowards LGBT individuals has increased in many developed countries (Ayoub & Garretson, 
\n2017) including Australia and Canada. In most Western societies, people are more supportive 
\ntowards LGBT rights (Van Lisdonk, 2018). In Asia, Taiwan is the first country to legalise
\nsame-sex marriage on 24 May 2019.
\nHowever, sexual orientation prejudice still exists where people hold the beliefs that 
\n“homosexuality is wrong” (Morrison & Morrison, 2003). For instance, some people feel 
\ndisgusted to see same-sex couples acting intimately in public (Kiebel et al., 2016). In countries 
\nwhere Islam is the main religion, like Malaysia, the LGBT lifestyle is frowned upon. LGBT 
\npractice is against Islamic principles and teachings (Muhammed & Amuda, 2018). In Malaysia, 
\nthe state-level Sharia (Islamic) laws prohibit cross-dressing, and transgender people “face 
\narbitrary arrest, physical and sexual assault, imprisonment, discriminatory denial of health care 
\nand employment, and other abuses” (Human Rights Watch, 2015). According to Lee (2012), 
\nthe basic human rights of LGBT individuals in Malaysia have been frequently violated. He 
\ncited the Amnesty International (2007) report that shows that LGBT individuals have been 
\nassaulted by vigilantes and those in official positions such as the police. Jerome (2013) found 
\nthat queer Malay Muslims themselves often have the conflict between their religious beliefs 
\nand sexualities due to the heteronormative Malay Muslim community. Not surprisingly, LGBT 
\nindividuals in Malaysia choose to hide their LGBT identities to avoid discrimination and 
\nprejudice. Religious belief is one of the main factors that causes negative attitudes towards 
\nLGBT. 
\nUp to 2018, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) has reported that the 
\nnumber of gay men has increased from 173,000 to 310,000 in five years. The increase of LGBT 
\nindividuals would lead to greater contact of heterosexuals with LGBT individuals in daily life. 
\nIntergroup contact can act as a mechanism to promote the acceptance towards LGBT and 
\nreduce negative stigma towards them (Hoffarth & Hodson, 2020). 
\nResearchers have found that intergroup contact influences acceptance towards LGBT 
\nindividuals. In Western settings, intergroup contact can reduce discrimination and prejudice 
\ntowards LGBT (Collier et al., 2013; Fingerhut, 2011; Hoffarth & Hodson, 2018). However, 
\nlittle is known about intergroup contact with LGBT individuals in Malaysia. Earnshaw et al. 
\n(2016) reported that medical and dental students who had interpersonal contact with men who 
\nhave sex with men (MSM) are more likely to be less prejudiced and less discriminating towards 
\nMSM. In addition, Ahmad et al.’s (2021) findings based on interviews with 12 participants 
\nLGBT. The acceptance of LGBT individuals is 
\nsignificantly correlated with religious background and 
\nextent of intergroup contact with LGBT individuals.

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