Thread by @MercuryJax

I'm a Queer Malaysian. I know nothing about the 1975 nor Matty Healy, so here are my unbiased thoughts about the whole issue that happened at GVF (a thread)

I want to start off by saying I love when musicians are political. I love when they stand by their music and beliefs, and are unapologetic about it. I genuinely believe music/art and politics goes hand in hand.

Nor is this a thread of me dissing anyone, or defending my country, or Matty, or anyone for that matter. This is just my thoughts on the situation, and how as someone who is both queer and Malaysian could actually be affected by this

Now, let's set some stuff clear. Matty and his bandmates are all rich white men who LOSE NOTHING by doing what they did. At most? They lose listeners from Malaysia and earn a little bit less now. They have no actual notable consequences for their speech and stunt. None.

Malaysian queers have worked HARD to try and campaign for our rights, many of them are entirely volunteer-based and completely funded by other local queers. We pour alot of blood, sweat, and tears to making sure our peers have a safespace, especially in such a hostile environment

We have carved out spaces and small wins, many of us have gone to jail or been detained doing so. Please do NOT assume any of us are okay with the homophobia and transphobia in our country nor that we aren't doing anything about it.

Matty pulling that stunt actively endanger all those efforts by shining a spotlight onto us. Conservatives outrank us here and literally raided Swatch for having a pride collection. All this does is tighten the laws against us and increase the number of eyes on us.

Like how exactly did he think the government would react to that? "Oh he called us a slur, I guess he's right, ok ive changed my mind gay people SHOULD have equal rights."

No. All that's going to happen is our Conservative party will use this to push more laws against us and international entertainment. More misdirected hate will be targeted towards us.

So, whilst im really sorry that he feels terrible when performing in a homophobic country, I live here. Imagine how I feel. The band should've just not come if it makes them feel so horrible, because they've made it worse for the people who actually live here.

Like this is performative activisim. That's it. It'd be one thing if he donated his profits to a local queer organisation or offered anything actually substantial to us that could actually push the movement in a helpful way, but all he did was throw a tantrum.

We just want to live. I'm sorry that we can't quite do more than that to live up to more progressive country's standards at the moment.

Muting! Ty for giving me time and space. Just want to add that local queers SHOULD be loud & and proud because that is OUR fight. If a local artist did this, I'd be so supportive.
This is not Matt's fight. He spoke over us, not with us.