Indonesia Still Far From a Rainbow Nation

Jakarta Globe ^ | 07/10/2013 | Dessy Aswin

[TexGrill]

Indonesia is a long way from achieving the openness and tolerance of the United States and Europe toward people of diverse sexualities, experts and activists say.

But a National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) statement calling for more protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people is a step in the right direction, they say, adding that civil society groups should push the government to end discrimination and violence.

Heru Susetyo, a human rights expert at the University of Indonesia, told the Jakarta Globe that community leaders needed to engage in public debate on LGBT issues.

“There should be more people speaking out, especially political leaders and powerful individuals whose influence is immense, like [US President] Barack Obama, because it will help to change the perception of the masses,” he said.

Todung Mulya Lubis, a human rights activist and lawyer, said that when influential people fight against an established practice, other people will follow.

“A long history of opposition to this group has been embedded in our minds and it will take a long time to change our mindset. There has always been deep antipathy toward these groups, and rejection. There is an understanding but it’s not yet openly expressed,” he said.

Indonesians are strongly opposed to LGBT rights, research shows. Last month’s “Global Divide on Homosexuality” study by the Pew Research Center surveyed more than 37,000 people in 39 countries.

It found Indonesians were overwhelming opposed to homosexuality, with 93 percent saying that gay people should not be accepted.

[TexGrill]

Bathouse Barry's Rainbow Warriors may soon invade Indonesia and deploy sparkle tanks to hit Indonesian shores that shoot glitter bombs. So be on the lookout for US Marines wearing pink spandex shorts, high heels, black leather jackets and moustaches. Just take a look at the American band, 'Village People,' to identify these Marines.

[fieldmarshaldj]

"Indonesia is a long way from achieving the openness and tolerance of the United States and Europe toward people of diverse sexualities, experts and activists say."

God bless Indonesia !

[mindburglar]

Except for Bali, Indonesia is a muslim shithole, just like Malaysia.

[Steve Van Doorn]

Pew Research: 59% of Indonesians support Osama bin Laden in 2003

But the good part:
of the 57 sharia based countries 56 have laws on their books to kill those that leave Islam. Indonesian is the only Islamic country that doesn't. this video is made by Muslims on how to deal with what is taking place in Indonesia: It really is interesting:
Save Maryam

[TexGrill]

There are many devout Chinese Catholics in Indonesia. I one time visited Kuala Lumpur and on a Sunday I went to a Catholic Mass. I started talking to a beautiful Indo-Chinese woman. We went for lunch. During lunch she said she was going to an all-night novena and would be on her knees the entire evening. Although I went to Catholic school and graduated from Thomas More College in Merrimack, New Hampshire, I never paid much attention to the religion classes, so when she said an all-night novena, I thought she was talking about something else. I was really excited, but you know what she took me to the chapel and yes indeed she was on her knees, but she was praying. Well, I was a bit disapointed so when she asked if we would meet again I declined. My knees were too tired from pretending to pray.