LGBTQ fears grow in Malaysia as Islamists shatter reform hopes

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Artist Carmen Rose used to perform regularly in Malaysia, until a police raid last year put an end to the veteran drag queen's act and fuelled the fears of the LGBTQ community at a time when Islamists are rapidly gaining political clout.

Since the raid, during which several party-goers were arrested, Rose has stopped doing shows, and rarely ventures out in public in costume.  

"It's always a risk going out in drag. If there was a raid, who do we call? Do we bring our boy clothes just in case?" said Rose, who declined to disclose her non-drag identity due to fears of reprisal. "They see us as sexual deviants or sinners." 

Queer Malaysians and rights groups told Reuters that LGBTQ communities face increasing scrutiny and discrimination under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government, despite the longtime opposition leader's reputation as a progressive reformer.

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