Full Breakdown
Indonesia’s President Labels LGBTQ Culture a National Threat, Prompting Heightened Harassment and Violence
7/17/2026, 8:49:03 PM
Presidential Regulation Declares LGBTQ Culture a Threat
In October 2025, President Prabowo Subianto issued a 70-page presidential regulation on national defence policy that lists “the promotion of LGBTQ culture” among non-military threats such as terrorism, radicalism and drug abuse. The document defines non-military threats as unarmed activities that endanger state sovereignty, territorial integrity and public safety, and instructs ministries and regional administrations to respond accordingly.
Legal and Institutional Fallout
Following the regulation, at least ten public universities adopted discriminatory rules that curb discussion of gender and sexual diversity. Six national statutes—including the Pornography Law, the Marriage Law, the Government Regulation on Child Adoption, the Electronic Information and Transactions Law, the Criminal Code, and Ministry of Health Regulation No. 2 of 2025—continue to indirectly discriminate against LGBTQ people. While same-sex relations remain illegal under Sharia law in Aceh and can carry up to 1.5 years’ imprisonment, transgender and intersex individuals may change legal gender only after surgery and judicial approval.
Surge in Violence Against Trans Individuals
Human Rights Watch documented an upsurge in attacks on LGBTQ university students during Pride Month 2026. Pelangi Nusantara, an LGBTQ advocacy group, reported that a hate account posted videos of a trans woman in Bogor being punched, kicked and doused with urine, and that at least fifteen trans women—most of them street-working and impoverished—have been attacked, some stripped naked and left with serious injuries and trauma.
Official Statements & Criticism
Legal Aid Institute for the People’s executive director Albert Wirya warned that the regulation legitimises punitive measures against LGBTQ individuals. Human Rights Watch’s deputy Asia director Meenakshi Ganguly said authorities are ignoring the rise in assaults on LGBTQ students. The Indonesian Ulema Council’s deputy chairman Kiai Cholil called for criminal penalties for “sexual deviation” harsher than those for adultery, noting the absence of a fixed sentencing framework.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The presidential regulation provides new legitimation both for the central government and regional administrations to enact legislation that penalises and discriminates against LGBTQ individuals merely because of their identities,” — Albert Wirya, Executive Director, Legal Aid Institute for the People
- “Indonesian authorities are looking the other way during an upsurge of attacks on LGBT university students and others,” — Meenakshi Ganguly, Deputy Asia Director, Human Rights Watch
- “ In response to Pride Month, the Indonesian Ulema Council, a conservative Islamic scholars’ body, told MUI Digital that “sexual deviation” should carry criminal penalties “harsher than the punishment for adultery”.” — Kiai Cholil, Deputy Chairman, Indonesian Ulema Council
- “A hate account called @bogorbersihlgbt recently uploaded videos showing attacks carried out against a trans woman,” — Pelangi Nusantara, LGBTQ advocacy group
- “ It continues: “Based on the information we’ve gathered, at least 15 trans women have been attacked.” — Pelangi Nusantara, LGBTQ advocacy group
