Rights groups have called off the ‘ASEAN Queer Advocacy Week’ scheduled to take place in Indonesia after receiving security threats from various groups. This cancellation highlights the mounting pressure faced by the LGBT community in the country, where homosexuality remains a taboo subject despite being legal in most regions. The event aimed to bring together activists from Southeast Asia to discuss advocacy and navigate challenges. However, concerns for the safety and security of participants and organizers led to the decision to relocate the event outside Indonesia.
The ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, a Philippines-based rights group, along with Indonesia-based Arus Pelangi and other activists, jointly organized the event. In a statement, the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus expressed the need to move the event to ensure the safety of all involved. They also mentioned a surge in “anti-LGBT sentiments” on social media, further emphasizing the hostile environment faced by the community. To safeguard the participants and organizers, the new venue has not been disclosed due to security concerns.
This incident follows a series of LGBT-related event cancellations in Indonesia due to objections from Islamic groups. In December, a planned visit by the United States’ LGBT special envoy was called off after facing denunciation from an influential clerical body. The cancellation of the ASEAN Queer Advocacy Week also coincides with a regional meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers hosted by Indonesia, raising speculation among some anti-LGBT groups about a connection between the two events. However, Indonesia’s foreign ministry clarified that the LGBT event is unrelated to the regional bloc.
The event’s cancellation has ignited debates online and drawn condemnation from Islamic groups, with calls for the government to deny permits to events that go against religious values. Anwar Abbas of the Indonesian Ulema Council, a powerful Islamic clerical body, urged the government to reject permission for such events. The ongoing challenges faced by the LGBT community in Indonesia underscore the need for continued advocacy and support to promote inclusivity and respect for diversity.”