Tolerance seems to be moving backwards in Indonesia as the Health Ministry on Friday said it is about to publish a medical guide where it has classified homosexuality as a mental disorder.
According to the guide of the pseudo-psychiatric body – lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transsexuals (LGBT) community are at risk of mental disorders owing to their sexual orientation, the Ministry's Director of Prevention and Control for Mental Problems told Efe news.
The guide is based on two reports – one drafted in 2016 by the Indonesian Psychiatrists Association (PDSKJI) and the other by the Health Ministry last year.
The association of 'leading psychiatrists' with the real mental disorder, also recommended certain rights for the LGBT group such as access to 'treatment' and medical awareness. The Ministry document stated that "homosexuality was against the ethos of the country".
Tourists might want to reconsider honeymooning in Indonesia after same-sex marriage. Gay sex there could mean a five-year jail time, as the Indonesian Parliament is currently discussing a ridiculous amendment to the penal code to criminalize homosexuality in the anti-gay country.
On the bright side, at least Indonesia is better than some homophobic countries where it can be a death sentence.
Homosexuality is legal in Indonesia, except in the Aceh province, in Sumatra Island, where the Islamic Sharia law is in force. The Indonesian government even convinced Google to yank out gay dating apps from the country's online store.
Moreover, Indonesian parliament is also drafting proposed revisions to the national criminal code that could ban all consensual sex outside marriage. This has sparked panic among activists who believe it would breach basic rights and could be misused to target the LGBT community.
(With inputs from agencies)