Brunei punishing gay sex with stonings

As you may have noticed, (if not, are you blind?), the world set itself on fire and chaos is everwhere. The Brunei controversy has swept the world, and it's just another kick in the teeth for the LGBT community.


What the hell is it?

Brunei is a small South-East Asain Nation run by the Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, who has recently called for "stronger" Islamic teachings and law. The new law dictates that offences such as rape, sodomy, adultery, robbery will be punsihable by death.

Brunei already had issues with homosexuality as it was. With it being illegal and punishable to up to 10 years in prison until recently, where it is now, due to Shariah Law, punishable by stoning to death. This is for two men who have engaged in sexual intercourse.

For lesbians, the punishment is slightly different. Any women engaging in lesbian activity will be sentenced to 10 years in prison or "40 strokes on the cane." Aren't we lucky?


What does it mean?

Brunei has always allowed the death penality, but this introduction of stoning changes things a lot, as they have not acted on the death penalty since 1957. The law, shockingly, doesn't just apply to adult Muslims of the country, it can apply, in aspects, to some non-Muslim citizens, and children who have reached puberty.


What happens now?

Many people have reacted in disgust and shock, and so they should. This is 2019 and so many countries are horrifyingly homophobic to varying degrees, but this one bites the bullet for the most dreadful in the news so far. What's more, is the sheer amount of support this has gained. Google a quick #IStandWithBrunei and you don't have to look far to see people cheering on this implementation of evil.


How have people been boycatting?

Everyone, including Ellen Degeneres, has been calling for a boycott of the hotels that the Sultan of Brunei owns, due to the Brunei Investment Agency he heads, which are listed below.

It's hard to imagine, living in Western society that is so accepting of the LGBTQ community, what it's like to live in fear and oppression, where one slip up and you could be killed is the reality. But the only thing we can do is spread awareness, boycott or protest hotels as many are doing. Maybe some change will happen in countries like Brunei, that feel it's right to hurt people born a certain way.