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While Malaysia rarely enforces its sodomy law, it was used twiceagainst Anwar Ibrahim, a leader of the opposition party who went toprison after a conviction in 2000 and was acquitted in a separatecase early this year. "This is unacceptable, because it is against religion, traditionsand against God," said Shady Azer, an engineer in Cairo. "Godcreated Adam and Eve. He didn't create two Adams or two Eves." In China, "the government treats homosexuality like it does notexist," said Xiong Jing, an activist who volunteers in gay supportgroups in Beijing. She said Thursday that legalizing gay marriagethere would be "unrealistic and impossible." China's authoritarian government shows little tolerance foractivism of any kind, and sodomy was a crime until 1997. Eventoday, gays are frequently discriminated against and ostracized.While Xiong welcomed Obama's support for gay marriage, she didn'tthink it would make much difference. Not on Philippines agenda Homosexuality also remains taboo in India, despite large gay prideparades recently in New Delhi and other big cities. Only this year,the government accepted a court ruling that struck down acolonial-era law banning gay sex, and the Supreme Court is nowhearing appeals. In the overwhelmingly Catholic Philippines, the only country in theworld apart from the Vatican where divorce is illegal, the issue ofgay marriage is not even on the agenda of gay rights groups becausesome of their members oppose it. Politicians tied to Pentecostal and Catholic churches in LatinAmerica spoke out strongly against Obama's statement. "Barack Obama is an ethical man and a philosophically confusedman," said Peruvian Congresswoman Martha Chavez, a member of theconservative Catholic Opus Dei movement. "He knows that marriage isn't an issue only of traditions or ofreligious beliefs. Marriage is a natural institution that supportsthe union of two people of different sexes because it has aprocreative function." There are other places where Obama's endorsement of gay marriagewas a ho-hum affair. Many European countries, as well as Canada,Argentina and South Africa, already allow gay marriage. So do sixU.S. states and the District of Columbia. "It seems to me that by taking this position, Obama is aligninghimself with the entire world, with these times we're living in,with the achievements of rights in other countries," saidgay-rights activist Cesar Cigliutti in Argentina, which in 2010became the first Latin American country to allow gay marriages. Australian PM still opposes same-sex unions Prime Minister John Key of New Zealand broke his long silence ongay marriage and said his government may consider allowing it "atsome stage." But in Australia, where polls show that most people support gaymarriage, left-leaning Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Thursdaythat she remains opposed, and three bills in Parliament that wouldallow same-sex couples to marry are unlikely to be passed. France also has a population largely in support of gay marriage anda head of state who opposes it, but that is about to change.Francois Hollande, who defeated President Nicolas Sarkozy inelections Sunday, made "the right to marry and adopt for allcouples" part of his campaign platform, and has set legislativepassage for no later than June of next year. In Thailand, gay activist Natee Teerarojjanapongs was energized byObama's statement. Though Thailand is often seen as gay-friendly bytourists, Thai society remains deeply conservative and there islittle support for expanding gay rights. "I was starting to lose hope in fighting for gay marriagelegalization in Thailand," Natee said, "but now Barack Obama'sendorsement is rekindling my fire and is giving me theencouragement to go on." With files from The Associated Press. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Corrugated Carton Box , Sidekick Displays, and more. For more , please visit Cardboard Floor Displays today!
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