Thu 10 Mar 2016 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
LGBTI groups in Indonesia have had to set up safe houses and hotlines as the situation in the country intensifies for the community. As lawmakers in Indonesia push for strict laws against the LGBTI community such as the newly proposed anti-gay “propaganda” bill, LGBTI groups are are now creating safe spaces for the community and drawing up evacuation plans should it be needed. Dede Oetomo, founder of the LGBTI rights group GAYa NUSANTARA - that was established in 1987 - told Gay Star News that hotlines have been established both in Jakarta and Yogyakarta by local LGBTI groups. The Indonesian Psychiatric Association recently classified LGBTI people as having mental disorders and earlier this month a newspaper in the country allegedly published a guide to spotting gay men in order “to protect kids”. Homosexuality is legal in all areas of Indonesia apart from the province of Aceh, where canning is a punishment for homosexuality.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 10th March 2016 - 11:32pm