Indonesian city of Pariaman plans to ‘eradicate LGBT’ behaviour by fining residents for ‘immoral’ actions
- The country has seen a growing number of by-laws targeting LGBT people
- Governor says that it is part of the city’s effort to ‘eradicate LGBT’
An Indonesian city has approved a by-law to fine gay or transgender people up to 1 million rupiah (US$70) for behaviour that could “disturb public order” or be considered immoral, the city’s deputy mayor said on Friday.
The regulation is the latest example of a rise in government and public hostility toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.
Homosexuality is not regulated by law in Indonesia, except in the conservative province of Aceh, but the country has seen a growing number of by-laws targeting LGBT people.
The council in the city of Pariaman in West Sumatra passed a regulation on Tuesday banning “acts that are considered LGBT”, deputy mayor Mardison Mahyudin said by telephone.
The regulation, revising an existing public order by-law, would be evaluated by the governor within 15 days, he said, adding that it was part of the city’s effort to “eradicate LGBT”.