After ‘Thor’ and ‘Lightyear,’ Malaysia Government Is Committed to Banning More LGBT Films
Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefThe Malaysian government has confirmed that Marvel film “Thor: Love and Thunder” was prevented from releasing in local theaters due to its LGBT elements.
A minister said on Wednesday that the government is committed to curtailing gay culture.Both “Thor” and Pixar animated film “Lightyear” were submitted by distributor Disney for classification and censorship by the country’s Film Censorship Board (LPF).
Variety understands that in both cases the LPF asked for cuts that the studio chose not make, effectively depriving the pictures of a theatrical release. “Lightyear” was banned in 16 or more Muslim-majority countries.“Recently there was a film that did not pass censorship, that is the new ‘Thor’ film,” said Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Zahidi Zainul Abidin. “[The movie] touched on LGBT but we see right now there are many films with LGBT elements that slip past the censorship.” Zahidi said that government and the religious department (correctly known as Islamic Affairs Department or JAKIM), were committed to curtailing the spread of LGBT culture in the country.
