MALAYSIA: THE up-coming Independence Day celebration has been used as an excuse by a group of local lesbians to throw their own "indepencence" party at a well-known hotel in Jalan Bukit Bintang last Saturday, reported Harian Metro.

The wild, poolside party where couples kissed, cuddled and performed sexy dances drew not only female gays, but also their male counterparts.

According to its organiser, the party was held to celebrate the homosexual couples' freedom to live as they please.

One of the party goers, a young lesbian named Tina, was quoted as saying that such parties were organised for like-minded couples.

"Parties like this are for same sex couples to celebrate our sexuality," she said.

"Independence, for us, is to be proud of our sexual preference and rejoice in our rejection of men as life partners."