Exploring The Number Of Gay People In Brunei

Brunei has been described as the country that has the most worrisome state of rights for LGBT people in Southeast Asia. Homosexuality has been outlawed in the small, oil-rich, Muslim-majority nation for some time, but in 2019, the government introduced a strict new Islamic penal code that made anal sex and adultery punishable by stoning to death. This has led to widespread fear in the gay community, with many choosing to quit online dating altogether and face a deepening climate of fear. While there is currently a moratorium on the death penalty, this could be lifted at any time by the Sultan, who is an absolute monarch with full executive power. As a result, LGBT Bruneians feel the need to remain very discreet about their sexual orientation, and it is difficult to know how many gays there are in the country.

LGBT+ people in Brunei face legal challenges and discrimination

The LGBT+ community in Brunei is forced to remain hidden and discreet due to the legal and social consequences of their sexual orientation. They face discrimination in various aspects of life, including employment, housing, recreation, and obtaining services such as education. LGBT+ individuals have reported intimidation by the police, who threaten to make their sexuality public or hamper their career prospects. They also experience challenges in assembling and expressing themselves freely, as the government imposes restrictions on events and gatherings related to LGBT+ topics.

The implementation of Sharia law in Brunei has further marginalized the LGBT+ community. The new laws prescribe harsher penalties for same-sex sexual activity, adultery, abortion, and blasphemy. Lesbian sex, previously punishable by imprisonment and a fine, now carries a penalty of 40 lashes. The climate of fear has deepened, with LGBT+ individuals quitting online dating and social media platforms out of fear of being targeted by the authorities.

International human rights activists have advised LGBT+ people in Brunei to remain discreet due to the risk of heavy punishment for "tarnishing the image of Islam". Brunei's laws and penalties have been widely condemned by the United Nations, foreign governments, and LGBT+ activists, who describe them as "medieval" and "uncivilized".

Homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death

In Brunei, a small Southeast Asian nation with a population of around 450,000, homosexuality is illegal and has been since 1906 when the sultanate became a British Protectorate. Both male and female homosexuality are outlawed, with same-sex sexual activity between men punishable by death. This punishment is prescribed by the Syariah Penal Code Order (SPCO), which was implemented in 2019. The SPCO also outlaws adultery and sodomy, prescribing death by stoning for these offences. While a moratorium on the death penalty has been in place since 2019, it could be revoked at any time, allowing death-by-stoning punishments to commence.

Under the SPCO, the penalty for same-sex sexual relations between married men is death by stoning, provided they admit to the acts or are testified against by four male adult Muslim eyewitnesses. If the evidentiary standards are not met, the maximum penalty is seven years' imprisonment and thirty lashes. For unmarried men, the penalty is one year in prison or 100 lashes. Sexual relations between women are punishable by a combination of any two of the following: forty lashes, a maximum prison term of ten years, and a fine of up to 40,000 B$.

The implementation of the SPCO has sparked international outrage, with celebrities and human rights groups calling for boycotts of luxury hotels linked to the Sultan of Brunei. The United Nations has also urged Brunei to review its laws, describing them as "medieval" and "uncivilized". In response to the backlash, the Sultan of Brunei announced in 2019 that the moratorium on the death penalty would also cover the SPCO, effectively suspending the death-by-stoning penalty for same-sex sexual relations. However, the laws themselves remain in place, and the moratorium could be lifted at any time.

The LGBT community in Brunei faces significant challenges and discrimination not experienced by non-LGBTQ residents. They must remain discreet about their sexual orientation due to widespread homophobia and the risk of heavy punishment for "tarnishing the image of Islam". They also face societal discrimination in employment, housing, recreation, and obtaining services, including education. The LGBT community in Brunei is very hidden, and those who are open about their sexuality risk intimidation and violence.

There is a climate of fear among the LGBT+ community

The LGBT+ community in Brunei is very hidden and secret, with individuals facing social consequences if they choose to be open about their identity. They face unofficial and societal discrimination in employment, housing, recreation, and obtaining services, including education. LGBT+ individuals also reported intimidation and threats from the police, who monitor their activities and communications. The community also faces restrictions on assembly and expression, with the government refusing to issue permits for events related to LGBT+ topics.

The climate of fear among the LGBT+ community in Brunei has deepened with the introduction of the new Shariah-inspired penal code. Individuals like 'S.' have stopped using dating apps and face a growing fear of being caught and punished. They worry about meeting strangers online or in person, as they may be government spies. The new laws have emboldened religious conservatives, leading to acts of hate and violence against the LGBT+ community. Many LGBT+ people in Brunei are keeping a low profile and living even more discreetly than before.

While there is some resistance and empowerment within the community, such as the work of young director Atikah, who made a film exploring the silenced voices of the LGBT+ community, the overall climate of fear persists. The community faces an uncertain future, with individuals considering leaving the country or changing their lifestyles to avoid persecution.

Censorship and self-censorship are rife

The government has also been known to monitor the activities and communications of the LGBTQ+ community, and events on LGBTQ+ topics are subject to restrictions on assembly and expression. The community has reported that the government will not issue permits for such events.

LGBTQ+ individuals in Brunei face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBTQ+ residents. Both male and female homosexuality are illegal, with sexual activity between men liable to capital punishment, and sex between women punishable by caning or imprisonment. The country has been described as "the country that has the most worrisome state of rights for LGBT people in Southeast Asia". As such, LGBTQ+ Bruneians feel the need to remain very discreet about their sexual orientation.

The implementation of Sharia law has further restricted the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Under the SPC, the penalty for same-sex sexual relations between men is death by stoning if married, provided they admit to the acts or four male adult Muslim eyewitnesses testify. If unmarried, the penalty is one year in prison or 100 lashes. Sexual relations between women are punishable by a combination of any two of three penalties: a caning of forty lashes, a maximum prison term of 10 years, and a fine of up to B$40,000.

The LGBTQ+ community in Brunei is very hidden and secret, with individuals fearing the consequences of being open about their identities. They face unofficial and societal discrimination in public and private employment, housing, recreation, and in obtaining services including education. They also report intimidation by police, including threats to make their sexuality public or to bar them from graduating from government academic institutions.

The climate of fear is such that even online dating is no longer seen as a safe option, with individuals worried about encountering government spies.

International criticism has been levied at Brunei

The United Nations urged Brunei to review its laws, describing them as "medieval" and "uncivilized". The international body, along with other human rights activists, advised LGBT individuals, as well as religious minorities, to remain discreet in the country to avoid heavy punishment for "tarnishing the image of Islam".

Celebrities such as George Clooney, Ellen DeGeneres, and Elton John, called for a boycott of the luxury hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei, including the Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air. This boycott extended to other countries where Brunei owns properties, such as The Dorchester in London.

Human rights groups like OutRight Action International and The Brunei Project have also been vocal in their criticism of Brunei's laws. The Brunei Project, founded in 2015, seeks to promote human rights, including LGBT rights, in the country through social media campaigns and community events.

The implementation of these laws has had a chilling effect on the LGBT community in Brunei, forcing them further underground and increasing their fear of persecution. The laws have also emboldened discrimination and violence against the community, with reports of LGBT individuals being harassed, assaulted, and cut off from social and professional networks.

The international community's response to Brunei's anti-LGBTQ laws highlights a global effort to uphold human rights and protect marginalised communities from state-sanctioned violence and discrimination.

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