On May 1, 2014 Hassanal Bolkiah, The Sultan of Brunei, which is located on the Northern coast of the Southeast Asian Island of Borneo, announced a series of penal codes outlining sanctions that would be placed on members of the LGBTQIA+ community, women pregnant out of wedlock, adulterers, women who have abortions and anything also that is deemed “indecent behavior.” The sanctions included deplorable human rights violations such as flogging, whipping, fines, imprisonment or even death by stoning.
The announcement instantly received outcry from feminist and LGBTQIA+ groups in the United States. The Feminist Majority organization held a protest immediately after, on May 5, 2014. The Feminist Majority also created a petition addressed to the Sultan, the United Nations, and the embassy requesting that the policy be rescinded.
Most recently on February 10, 2015, celebrity Feminist Ally John Legend announced his protest against the Sultan by refusing to perform at the L.A. Confidential Party in Los Angeles. The party was going to be held at The Beverly Hills Hotel, which belongs to Sultan Bolkiah.
In a CNN Article regarding the protest against the Beverly Hills Hotel, Legend’s publicist, Amanda Silverman made the statement, “These policies, which among other things could permit women and LGBT Bruneians to be stoned to death, are heinous and certainly don’t represent John’s values, “Legend’s publicist, Amanda Silverman, said in a statement. “John does not, in any way, wish to further enrich the Sultan while he continues to enforce these brutal laws.”
The general consensus amongst commentators on the Feminist Majority Foundation’s protest announcement seems to be best summed up by Cynthia Neal who said, “Americans will not participate in his [The Sultan’s] blood-soaked enterprises.”
Works Cited
Caffrey, Jane. “John Legend Boycott Beverly Hills Hotel, Sharia Law in Brunei – CNN.com.” CNN. Cable News Network, 6 Feb. 2015. Web. 09 Feb. 2015.
“John Legend Drops Performance at Beverly Hills Hotel in Response to Brunei’s Anti-Gay, Anti-Woman Penal Code.” Feminist Wire Daily Newsbriefs: U.S. and Global News Coverage. Feminist Majority Foundation, 10 Feb. 2015. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.
Lieben Levine, Simone. “NEWSFLASH: Worldwide Protest Against Sultan of Brunei on Friday.” Ms Magazine Blog. Feminist Majority Foundation, 26 June 2014. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.