Jokowi’s son-in-law blasted for saying Indonesia’s Medan is ‘anti-LGBT’
- Bobby Nasution, son-in-law of President Joko Widodo, said same-sex marriage was inappropriate in Indonesian culture, and his city of Medan was ‘LGBT-free’
- Homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, except in ultraconservative Aceh province, but the country has seen rising intolerance for the LGBT community
The mayor of Medan has attracted criticism for describing the Indonesian city as “LGBT-free” and spewing a homophobic diatribe at men who spent New Year’s Eve cosying up to each other.
“No group in the multi-ethnic city backs same-sex relationships. So let us follow our own cultural values.”
“No one should be discriminated against because of their race, religion, sexual orientation and other factors,” the watchdog’s chief Anis Hidayah was quoted as saying by Kompas TV.
Bobby’s remarks also riled up criticism on Indonesian social media, as users accused him of “nepotism” and launching a campaign of discrimination against sexual minorities to garner votes ahead of next year’s general election.
Wish you a Merry Christmas: an Indonesian Muslim cleric’s antidote to division
Some questioned what he intends to do with people from the LGBT community and chided him for imposing his “arid” ideology on others.
“Public officials enter the private sphere. If you are anti-LGBT, does that mean you will expel our LGBT brothers and sisters in Medan?”
The mayor’s supporters rallied behind him, saying “wrong behaviour must be corrected”.
02:40
‘All-gendered’ shamans in Indonesia battle to preserve their traditions
“Reject the existence of LGBT in the city of Medan and throughout Indonesia,” said a netizen.
Homosexuality is not illegal in the world’s most populous Muslim country, except in the ultraconservative Aceh province, but Indonesia has seen rising intolerance for the LGBT community in recent years.
