A year after a 'How to spot an LGBT’ guide hit the headlines, a public university's counselling unit is holding a seminar to create awareness and discuss ways to “bring (the LGBT community) back to the fold”.

NONEAccording to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Counselling and Career Centre's Faeiza Ismail, this is because unlike in neighbouring countries, Malaysia's traditions are not consistent with the esbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) way of life.

“In Singapore, such cases are considered normal and acceptable but in Malaysia, we have our cultures and religions which make it difficult to accept.

“We hope this seminar can discuss ways to cope with the impact of the LGBT on society, and how to bring them (the LGBT) back to the fold (ke pangkal jalan),” Faieza said when contacted.

She said the seminar, which will take place on Nov 12 at the alumni hall at the university’s main campus in Skudai, will discuss the matter from an “academic, health and spiritual perspective”.

“Our target audience are students, other counsellors and the society at large. We are taking a liberal approach to the subject and we are not trying to condemn anyone,” she said.

The seminar, which is advertised on the counselling unit's official Facebook page, however, has received negative feedback online.

NONEFacebook users commenting on the promotional post criticised the seminar as “stupid and wasteful” and urged the seminar organisers not to preach hate against, or demonise, the LGBT community.

However the page administrator said that the seminar is “all about creat(ing) awareness among...society”.

“If you want people to respect LGBT, please respect the other community (members) who are non-LGBT. Please tell us, did we mention in this seminar that we will criticise or teach hate (against) LGBT?” the administrator asked.

LGBT welcome to attend

Asked about concerns that the seminar might be rooted in prejudice, Faeiza said that the organisers had initially wanted to invite speakers representing the LGBT community.

NONE“But some people have advised us against it, as they were afraid the seminar might be deemed as something it is not.

“All the same, I urge everyone including the LGBT community to join the seminar, as we would be interested to hear their views on what they go through,” she said.

According to the seminar itinerary, speakers at the one-day seminar include academics, senior counsellors and an obstretics and gyneacology specialist.

Last year, civil society cried foul over a guideline (above) on how to spot LGBT tendencies among schoolchildren were distributed at a NGO Yayasan Guru Malaysia Bhd (YGMB) forum officated by then deputy minister Puad Zarkashi.

NONEAlthough the Education Ministry denied endorsing the guideline, the ministry did allow the staging of anti-LGBT musical 'Asmara Songsang' (right) to be performed in schools.

The LGBT community is largely seen as deviant by conservative groups with a senior police officer even declaring them to be a security threat.

In 2011, the authorities placed a blanket ban on the Seksualiti Merdeka festival, which was first held in 2008 to promote better understanding of the LGBT community in the country and for the people to respect their rights.

The Coalition of Malaysian NGOs for the Univeral Periodic Review process who presented to the United Nations last month were also been condemned for making representations for LGBT rights.