KUALA LUMPUR: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) tendencies are not forms of mental illness but an aberration from what is the norm, said Deputy Health Minister Lee Boon Chye.
He said that LGBT cannot be linked to mental illness as it is more of an organic disease.
“Large numbers of LGBT members (have) organic disease, hormonal disease or disease in the brain.
"Through MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), it can show that (LGBT tendency) is something physical in the brain that makes them behave that way," he said.
“So please do not regard LGBT members as sick people or suffering from mental disease. This is a wrong impression,” he added.
Lee was speaking during the Question and Answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was answering an additional question from Ahmad Amzad Mohamed Hashim (PAS-Kuala Terengganu) who wanted to know if LGBT tendencies were a form of mental disease.
The additional question was raised during Lee’s answering of a main question from Lukanisman Awang Sauni (GPS-Sibuti) on whether addiction to gaming and social media would be categorised as a mental problem and what steps the ministry has taken to tackle the matter.