Malaysia's first gay movie to test public acceptance

By Razak Ahmad
Thu Nov 11, 2010 4:52am EST

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AA1L720101111

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters Life!) - Malaysia's first gay-themed film, which will open in cinemas in February, is set to raise eyebrows in this conservative, mainly Muslim Southeast Asian country, where homosexuality remains a taboo subject.

The Malay language "...Dalam Botol" ("... In a Bottle") tells the story of the relationship between Ruby, a transsexual Muslim man, and her wayward male lover Ghaus.

The movie offers no racy love scenes to survive scrutiny by the country's strict film censors, but will set a precedent in a nation where sex between males is a legal offence under the country's criminal laws, and where homosexuality is rarely discussed in public.