The February premiere of ...In a
Bottle (...Dalam Botol), which features a transgender woman, is
expected to create controversy in conservative Malaysia, where singer
Adam Lambert's concert was protested last month.
The film explores the relationship
between Ruby, a transgender woman who keeps her penis in a bottle,
and her male lover Ghaus. Before altering her sex, Ruby and Ghaus
were involved in a gay relationship.
Gay sex is a criminal offense in
Malaysia and being gay is considered a taboo in the Muslim
stronghold.
“This is the first movie in Malaysia
about gays, and it's going to get attention because it's something
different,” Wan Raja, who plays Ghaus, told Reuters.
Censors have previously only allowed
gay characters if they repent or are killed off. The censorship
board approved the film because Ruby ultimately regrets altering her
sex, but asked filmmakers to alter the original title Penis in a
Bottle.
Rocker Adam Lambert agreed to tone down
his Kuala Lumpur performance last month amid allegations that his
show promotes “gay culture.” The
28-year-old openly gay singer agreed to cut out a kiss between
himself and his male keyboardist.
Lambert said it was a “tough
decision” but he did it out of “respect” for Malaysian culture.