boot camp for effeminate boys

A camp set up to correct the effeminate behaviour of Muslim schoolboys violates the law and should be abolished, says Malaysia's women's minister.

Sixty-six schoolboys identified by teachers as effeminate began counselling this week to discourage them from being gay.

They are undergoing four days of religious and physical education.

An education official said the camp was meant to guide the boys back "to a proper path in life".

But the women's minister, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, said singling out these children based on perceived feminine mannerisms was traumatising and harmful to their mental health.

The camp violates the Child Act, which protects children without prejudice, she said.

Gay rights groups have also criticised the measure, saying it promotes homophobia in the Muslim-majority country where gay sex is still illegal.

The schoolboys allegedly displayed "feminine mannerisms" - though educators in the conservative state of Terengganu did not detail what they were, the BBC's Jennifer Pak reports from Kuala Lumpur.

State officials say that, if left unchecked, the students - aged between 13 and 17 - could end up gay or transsexual.

They blame parents for encouraging boys to develop feminine traits, by dressing them up in girls' clothing at a young age.


WHAT NEXT - A BOOT CAMP FOR
TOMBOYISH GIRLS TO BECOME FEMININE?
CHILDISH ADULTS TO BECOME MATURE?
PRECOCIOUS KIDS TO REGAIN THEIR INNOCENCE?
A BOOT CAMP FOR TEACHERS WHO CAN'T YOUTUBE AND TWITTER?

ALL BECAUSE THEY WANT TO TEACH THEM THE "RIGHT" WAY?

WHY DOES THE WRITER USE INVERTED COMMAS?
BECAUSE WHAT IS CONSIDERED RIGHT IS SUBJECTIVE/ A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT

WHY DOES THE WRITER TYPE IN CAPITALS?
BECAUSE SHE IS NOT WEARING HER READING GLASSES :(