Colonialism may largely be a thing of the past, but its legacies still linger. For example, as we've mentioned before, India's law books still recognize the British-originated Section 377, as do the governments in Malaysia, Singapore and other long-independent former colonies.

Written in the 1861 by colonialist Lord Macaulay, the law effectively outlaws same-sex sexin', yet remains a legislative rarity. As Doug Sanders reports over at Fridae, the Brits overturned the law back in 1982, when Jeffrey Dudgeon successfully argued that he had been subject to intimidation and "agitation" by blackmailers looking to expose him. The case remains the same in India, where Section 377 remains a legislative - but not a social - rarity. As politicians and a few gay activists rally against the archaic stipulation, countless queers in these nations still face intimidation, thus forcing them into the shadows. Sanders explains, however, that sunlight's only a shout away.

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Alright, we know we're asking a lot, but try to think back to 1998. Yes, we know it's trying, but surely you remember when then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad accused his then Deputy PM Anwar Ibrahim of engaging in the most vile of human acts: sodomy.

It seems Mohamad objected to Anwar's political opposition, implied that Anwar had fucked a man in the butt, resulting in a trial at which Anwar's speech writer, Munawar Ahmad Anees, admitted the two had, indeed, fucked in the butt and both men went to prison. While Anees' cooperation reduced his sentence to six months, poor Anwar ended up behind bars until 2004.

Upon his release, Anwar gathered his legal-types and filed a defamation lawsuit against Mohamad, insisting that Mohamad's statements accused him of homosexuality. Now 247gay.com reports that Mohamad's filed a counter-suit to dismiss Anwar's charges. A report published Saturday quotes Mohamad as reiterating his religiously-minded stance: "I strongly believe we cannot have a prime minister who is homosexual... Malaysia is officially an Islamic country." Sure, these are pretty inflammatory statements, but they seem pretty logical to us: how can a homo lead an officially Islamic country? Official Islamic law would requite their immediate execution, thus leaving a headless head of state - a political conundrum, to say the least. Although, to be fair, we also don't believe that state's should have official religions.

• We were briefly (and vaguely) intrigued when we found out Creed's Scott Stapp and Kidd Rock had made a sex tape together. Too bad they don't get busy with one another. [Gawker]

• You too can blow your entire annual salaray (and then some) on the shirts off of Jake and Heath's backs. [Ebay]

• The Virginia Senate has passed a proposed constituional amendment to ban gay marriage and civil unions which will now go to voters. What else would you expect from a state with a town named Lynchburg? [Richmond.com]

• Shock! Who would have thought that you could get more than just a rub down at a massage parlor? [The Malay Mail]

• Shopaholic Johnny Weir is a triple threat: he's a princess, an Olympian, and a diva. [Towleorad]

• Gays from Newark to Trenton could be shopping for wedding dresses and tuxes. Same-sex marriage is going to the New Jersey Supreme Court. [Newsday]

• Two of our favorite media subjects come together in one place. Tyra Banks tackles gay cowboys on her show today. [The Advocate]

• It won't be Return to Brokeback Mountain, but Jake Gylenhaal and Heath Ledger might end up onscreen once again. [NY Times]

• We don't know why the normally anti-gay Focus on the Family is endorsing a pro-gay bill, but we'll take what we can get from them. [LA Times]

• There was a time when Madonna's controversial performances were much more risqué than form-fitting purple leotards and a few sexy dance moves. Malaysia's government needs to take a look at Truth or Dare to see what the real definition of provocative is. [In The News]

Golden Globe fave, Brokeback Mountain, has been censored by the Malay film board. Actually, UPI, the film’s distributor, has decided to self-censor itself, not even bothering to seek the strict board’s approval. I guess they know what the answer will be already.

UIP, however, will not even apply for approval of Brokeback Mountain, director Ang Lee's award-winning gay cowboy romance, said UIP publicity manager Dawn Liew. "We believe there is a market for Munich here, but Brokeback Mountain is definitely not going to make it here because its themes wouldn't be right for our local audiences," Liew told the Associated Press. Brokeback Mountain, about two cowboys who discover romantic feelings for each other, has swept critics awards in the United States over the past month and is widely expected to be a leading contender at this year's Academy Awards.

The heavily Muslim country can handle the bloody Munich but not The Gays’ (and now the Hollywood Foreign Press’) beloved Brokeback? But we don’t think the people of Malaysia have anything to worry about. The thriving Asian industry of bootleg DVD’s will certainly ensure that the entire continent is flush with illegally purchased copies of Heath, Jake, and that rocking put tent.

No Brokeback for Malaysia [The Advocate]