Gay travel guide to Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia

Gay travel guide to Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- The editor of a new gay and lesbian travel guide to Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia said Thursday he hopes the book will foster more acceptance of homosexuality -- which is outlawed in all three conservative Southeast Asian nations.

The "Utopia Guide to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia," launched last Friday, is the first such guide for the three countries, said Utopia Guides editor John Goss.

"We are simply shining a light on an aspect of society that exists in every country around the globe, but one that has been mostly in the shadows here in Asia," Goss told The Associated Press via e-mail from the Thai capital, Bangkok.

"I am hoping for positive repercussions (in the three countries)," Goss added. "The more that all aspects of human nature are discussed, the more at ease everyone becomes."

In majority-Muslim nations Indonesia and Malaysia, gay sex is punishable by jail. Islamic hard-liners in Jakarta have carried out their own raids on events considered un-Islamic and once attempted to shut down a transvestite beauty pageant.

Singapore also outlaws homosexuality, saying it violates conservative Asian norms, but prosecutions are rare in the city-state and Malaysia.

Goss said Bangkok-based Utopia was careful to market its US$28 guide as "a travel book," rather than a gay guide.

"As the cover only has gentle references to the subject matter, it should be able to be sold without fanfare in even very uptight places," he said.

He did not directly respond to a query on whether the book will be sold in the three nations featured.

Despite Malaysia's conservative stance on homosexuality, Utopia says it is has the "hottest gay scene going," based on surveys conducted from Singapore.

There are also hints on where to "cruise" -- to hook up with other gays -- and it lists enterprises owned by gays and lesbians. Massage and travel services are also highlighted, but venues fronting for prostitutes are not featured, he said.

"The intent of this particular guide, by grouping all these three countries together, is to encourage tourism and patronizing of gay-friendly businesses that are beginning to flourish in Southeast Asia," he said.

Utopia also prints gay and lesbian guides to China, Thailand, and one grouping Korea, Taiwan and Japan.

The book is sold through the company's Web site and can also be downloaded for around a quarter of the cost of a hard copy. (AP)

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On the Net:

www.utopia-asia.com/utopiaguide/utopiaguides.htm

April 30, 2006