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Gay Conference Banned in Indonesia


JAKARTA INDONESIA PROTEST 2007 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM

A pan-Asian conference of gay activists scheduled for this weekend in East Java was ordered canceled Wednesday by Indonesian police, who said the event posed a threat to public order.

According to the Associated Press, national police spokesman Brig. Gen. Sulistyo Ishak claimed the conference, sponsored by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA), would provoke conservative Muslims and prompt social unrest.

“The ban was issued by police in Surabaya, East Java's capital, where the three-day conference was to be held, he said,” according to the AP. “The decision was made after considering public objections by Muslim groups and the Indonesian Ulema Council, an influential board of Muslim clerics, he said.”

ILGA officials said they would appeal the decision, but religious leaders vowed to continue their opposition. Homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, but attitudes vary from tolerance to outright rejection in the Muslim-majority country.

More than 150 activists representing 100 organizations in 16 Asian countries were scheduled to attend the conference, according to the AP.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Uki
    Date posted: 3/24/2010 1:33:32 PM
    Hometown: Bogor

    Comment:

    Bali is too expensive. The only place accountable next is Yogyakarta, which are more moderate that Surabaya. I really hope the conference can still run :(

  • Name: Pravin
    Date posted: 3/24/2010 12:03:58 PM
    Hometown: Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia

    Comment:

    Im surprised.. Indonesia is fairly tolerant and liberal on matters of lgbt, religion etc ,especially on the island of bali and jawa.. compared to neighbouring singapore and malaysia After all it was just a conference.. they should have let it go on..

  • Name: jaumais
    Date posted: 3/24/2010 10:36:37 AM
    Hometown: San Diego

    Comment:

    They should consider moving the conference a bit farther east, to the island of Bali, which is much more tolerant of LBGTI travellers. Frankly, in that part of the world, tolerance is as much as we can hope for at this time.



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