Handling The Problems Of LGBT Practices Is Like An Endless War

JAKARTA - The polemic about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) is like an endless war. The issue of LGBT has surfaced again in Indonesia, after several events related to it appeared in the mass media and social media towards the end of May.

It started with the famous broadcast of Deddy Corbuzier on May 7, which featured an interview with an LGBT couple, men from Indonesia and Germany, Ragil Mahardika and Frederik Vollert. The two are said to have legally married in Germany in 2018.

Deddy's upload in his broadcast immediately invited a terrible reaction. From the netizens came #UnsubscribePodcastCorbuzier. In just a matter of days, the number of Deddy's followers on the broadcast dropped to millions.

"To be honest, I don't need subscribers. I need views," said Deddy about the decline and increase in followers on his channel on May 16.

Reactions in the real world also emerged, this time from the Indonesian House of Representatives. Through a member of Commission I of the DPR, Mohammad Iqbal, asked the Ministry of Communication and Information (Kemenkominfo) to delete Deddy's broadcast that raised the LGBT couple. Deddy finally deleted the content of the couple Ragil and Frederik from the Youtube channel he manages.

Actually, Deddy is not the only time in his broadcast raising the issue of LGBT. Previously, he had invited a lesbian couple, Jeje and Nino in 2020. A transgender who won the Miss Queen International Indonesia 2018 contest, Dinda Syarif had also been shown by Deddy as a guest.

In 2021 Deddy invited a lesbian couple, Yumi Kwandy and Chika Kinsky. Unlike what happened to Ragil and Frederik, Deddy's three guests who are also involved in LGBT activities did not invite a big reaction from netizens and the public.

Rainbow Flag at the British Embassy

Deddy's sarcastic affairs have not been completely resolved, the LGBT issue has spread again after the British Embassy in Jakarta raised the rainbow flag alongside the Union Jack. The flag hoisting, which is the symbol of LGBT, was carried out to commemorate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobes, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) which falls on May 17.

"Sometimes it's important to stand firm on the principles that we think are right, even though there are disagreements with other friends that cause discomfort," reads the British Embassy's official Instagram account, @ukinindonesia.

"The United Kingdom holds that LGBT+ rights are fundamental human rights," added the statement on the British Embassy's Instagram account.

In the introductory sentence of the nine-paragraph photo of the rainbow flag raising, it also mentions the long history of LGBT that has existed throughout human history.

In the view of the British Embassy, although LGBT+ have existed throughout human history, they are still being persecuted. Criminalized in 71 countries through laws against same-sex relations, prohibition of “cross-dressing” in 15 countries, and prohibition of being transgender in 26 countries.

"Harassment and violence are a regular part of LGBT+ life everywhere," reads the closing sentence for the photo of the rainbow flag hoisting at the British Embassy.

The Indonesian government responded to the action at the British Embassy by summoning Ambassador Owen Jenkins. Indonesia protested the raising of the rainbow flag on 17 May, even though under international law the British Embassy's action was legal because the action was carried out on British territory, not Indonesia.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern and disappointment over the raising of the LGBT+ flag at the British Embassy last week. In response to this, the British Ambassador noted the disappointment and protest of the Indonesian Government and will convey it to the British Government in London," wrote the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Teuku Faizasyah in a broadcast press on May 24.

It is clear here that the Government of Indonesia does not support the existence of LGBT+, although it also does not prohibit the community in this country.

International LGBT Association Data

In a report published on December 15, 2020, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA World) stated that in 2020 there were two countries that changed laws regarding the criminalization of LGBT. The two countries are Gabon and Bhutan.

According to ILGA World, as of 2020 there are 34 UN member states that are actively implementing LGBT criminalization laws. This number is not impossible to increase.

“Wherever such laws exist, people can be arrested at any time. Even just for reasons of suspicion of having sex with people of the same sex. Courts are actively prosecuting and punishing them with imprisonment, caning, and even the death penalty,” said Lucas Ramon Mendos, ILGA World Research Coordinator in the annual report.

According to Julia Ehrt, Program Director of ILGA World, the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the position of the LGBT community in some parts of the world.

“For our community, the safe place in the world seems to have shrunk overnight. Some governments are taking advantage of the pandemic by accusing us of being scapegoats. Looking for excuses to discriminate and punish us,” said Ehrt, a transgender person from Germany who holds a doctorate in mathematics.

Forbes on November 25, 2019, issued a report on the 20 most dangerous countries for the LGBT community, and they should be avoided as much as possible. Some of the countries mentioned by Forbes include: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, Palestine, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Malaysia, Maldives, Egypt, Jamaica, Santa Lucia, and Barbados.

Although there is a lot of opposition from LGBT here, Indonesia is not included in the list of countries reported by Forbes. Does that mean Indonesia is safe for the LGBT community?

LGBT in Indonesian Culture

It is undeniable, LGBT actually also grows in Indonesian culture. In Indonesia culturally there are various cultures that recognize gender other than male and female.

In Bugis culture, for example, it is known that there are five types of gender, namely male, female, calalai or men who are graceful like women, calabai or tomboyish women, and bissu which means gender is not male or female.

“It is said that after descending from heaven, bissu do not split into male or female like most people. They are considered as intermediaries between the world and heaven, and occupy a role like shamans in Bugis beliefs," said Sharin Graham Davies, an anthropologist from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia as quoted by the BBC.

In Javanese culture, figures are often shown who show themselves as cross-gender. The Lengger Lanang dance from Banyumas, Central Java, for example. The art clearly shows cross-gender characteristics, because the performers of the Lengger Lanang dance are men who dress up as women.

Likewise, what is found in the Toba Batak culture in North Sumatra, there is the name Nan Tinjo. The title is none other than a supernatural figure who according to local traditional beliefs is transgender. Nan Tinjo is believed to be the guardian of the harmonious life of the Batak people.

Criminal Law Entry Plan

It is not easy to reach an understanding of ideas about LGBT. Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud Mahmudin emphasized that LGBT practices would be included in the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP).

"It's been included in the RKUHP and the government already has an attitude. But at that time in 2017, the government and the DPR were protested by NGOs asking that LGBT not be banned, then it was delayed until now. If the government is clear, it has conveyed it," Mahfud told VOI, in Nusa Dua, Badung, Bali, 18 May.

Mahfud had already expressed his views through a tweet on his Twitter account, at least a week before his visit to Bali.

Mahfud referred to Article 292 of the Criminal Code on sexual abuse. The article only regulates the prohibition of homosexual practices between adults and children, but there are no sanctions if the perpetrators are fellow adults.

Mahfud's thoughts as a representative of the government received a different response from some members of the DPR RI. As stated by a member of Commission III of the DPR RI from the PKB faction, Jazilul Fawaid for example. He considered that the legal umbrella to regulate the practice of LGBT was not yet an urgent need.

"Indeed, there is no specific legal regulation regarding LGBT. However, it is not urgent to create a legal umbrella. Let culture and education prevent this behavior. In our opinion, LGBT behavior is contrary to Indonesian ethics, morals, culture, and is even considered deviant behavior. showing and broadcasting LGBT behavior will confront the majority of the community," Jazilul told reporters, Wednesday, May 11.

The discussion on the RKUHP, which mentions legal sanctions for the practice of same-sex or LGBT relationships, is still continuing. The government and Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives have scheduled a follow-up discussion on the issue on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.

The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)