A group of five members of LGBT non-profit organisation Diversity attended the May Day rally to demand equal rights for LGBT in Malaysia.

“We are not going to be the elephant in the room anymore. We are here and we want people to take notice of us. We want equal rights too,” a representative of the group named Yee Shan told the Malay Mail.

Malaysia’s LGBT community tend to keep a low profile in the country where homosexuality is illegal and authorities routinely crack down on their activities.

However, the upcoming election had spurred the group to bring the attention of LGBT to the public by way of a high profile street campaign.

“We know the elections are coming and politicians will ask for our vote which is quite a number.

“If you want or vote, you should start listening to us and addressing our issues,” she added.

The group attracted media attention last year at Malaysia’s Bersih 4 rally which demanded government reforms where they carried a large rainbow flag. Newspapers suggested that the movement had become a gathering of social ills.