indonesia
Three Indonesian Women Arrested For Same-Sex Marriage Video
Police in Indonesia have arrested three women after they posted a video online claiming President Joko Widodo would legalise marriage equality if he’s re-elected this year. In the video, shared thousands of times online, two women can be seen using the threat of marriage equality in the majority-Muslim country as a scare tactic, telling an …
Instagram Denies Removing ‘Gay Muslim’ Comic After Indonesian Pressure
An Instagram account featuring comics depicting gay Muslims’ struggles in Indonesia has been deleted following outrage from authorities in the country. The Indonesian-language comics, posted by user @Alpantuni, depicted a gay protagonist and explores his identity and the bigotry and abuse he faces for being gay in the country. The Ministry of Communications wrote to …
‘Discreet And Cautious’: What It’s Like Being LGBTIQ In Indonesia
Indonesian law does not criminalise private, consenting adult same-sex acts. However, in the majority Muslim country, there is an element of societal disapproval. Also, because of the need for social harmony in the diverse country, a citizen’s duties are the priority rather than their rights. Adding even more complexity to the situation for the Indonesian …
Indonesia Using Religious Exorcisms To Try And ‘Cure’ LGBTIQ People
LGBTIQ people in Indonesia are undergoing religious “exorcisms” as a form of “gay conversion” therapy in a bid to cure their “demonic” homosexuality. The Islamic exorcisms, known as “ruqyah”, are being used in parts of Indonesia to cure various physical and mental illnesses. The rituals are televised by an Indonesian TV program of the same …
Two Trans Women ‘Beaten And Stripped By Gang Of Men’ In Indonesia
A gang of dozens of men have reportedly stripped, beaten and humiliated two transgender women in West Java in Indonesia this week. The group of 50 to 60 men attacked the two victims with a metal rod on Monday night, forcing one of the women to remove her clothes before insulting her body and cutting …
Police In Indonesia Arrest Ten Women For ‘Deviant Lesbian Behaviour’
Police in Indonesia have arrested 10 women on suspicion of “deviant lesbian activity” and hosed down three transgender women to “cleanse” them, outraging human rights groups. The group of ten people were arrested and detained on Sunday (November 4) in Padang, West Sumatra, on suspicion of “deviant lesbian behaviour.” Head of police Pol Yadrison said …
Indonesian Police Arrest Men Who Allegedly Ran LGBTIQ Facebook Page
Police in Indonesia have arrested and charged two men who they allege operated an LGBTIQ social page on Facebook. Last Thursday, West Java police raided the house in Batununggal rented by the man, who allegedly created the “Gay Bandung” LGBTIQ Facebook page, the Straits Times reported. Police claimed the men had managed the account since …
Two Gay Men Publicly Caned In Indonesia’s Aceh Province
Two men accused of having gay sex have been publicly caned 87 times each in the Indonesian province of Aceh. On Friday, Aceh officials staged the public canings of the two men and 13 others in front of a crowd of 300 people who jeered during both of their punishments, CNN reported. Aceh is the …
Indonesia’s LGBTIQ Crackdown Is Causing An ‘Epidemic’ Of HIV
The marginalisation of Indonesia’s LGBTIQ community is fuelling an HIV “epidemic” in the country, according to a new report. The prevalence of HIV among gay men in Indonesia has surged five-fold from 5 per cent in 2007 to 25 per cent in 2015, Human Rights Watch wrote in their Scared In Public and Now No …
Gay Indonesian Man Says ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Saved His Life
A gay Indonesian man has revealed that RuPaul’s Drag Race helped him cope during the “lowest point” of his life. The 21-year-old opened up in a viral Reddit post about the anxiety he faces about his sexuality living in a country that doesn’t accept its LGBTIQ community. The man said he discovered the popular drag …