A conference of Asian gay rights campaigners has been cancelled by Indonesian police, who claim it could lead to violent protests by conservative Muslim groups. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association conference was to take place this weekend in Surabaya, East Java's capital, with participants from 16 countries. Police say if it went ahead it could trigger a social crisis and cause public unrest. The organising committee is trying to appeal the decision with police and religious leaders, arguing that the conference was meant to raise awareness of social issues faced by gay people. Homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, but remains a sensitive issue in the socially conservative, Muslim-majority nation.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 25th March 2010 - 8:57am