The struggle of the LGBTQ+ community for equal rights throughout Asia is one of encouraging wins, exhausting stagnation, and outright setbacks. This Explainer gives you an overview of some recent developments.
The rise of Islamic conservatism in Indonesia doesn t just threaten LGBT+ people
Jonta Saragih is Indonesia program officer and Daina Rudusa is senior communications manager at OutRight Action International
Little good news has come from Indonesia in relation to LGBT+ equality. Several regressive laws have been proposed, vigilante violence is rising, and police raids of LGBT+ spaces are common. Just last month a gay couple was publicly caned in Aceh province.
It has been rightly reported that a crackdown against LGBT+ people in Indonesia is underway. However, what s been missing is the recognition that these attacks form one part of a broader proliferation of purist Islamic conservatism promoted by a number of right-wing parties and organizations. In order to most effectively fight for LGBT+ equality, and human rights more broadly, we have to consider the picture as a whole.