On the 24th of April of 2024, the Uppsala Association of Foreign Affairs welcomed Karl Yves Vallin, Managing Director at RFSL Utbildning, a Swedish NGO, to discuss about the setback faced by the LGBTQ+ community in Indonesia.
Indonesia, the worlds largest Muslim-majority country, demonstrated a high level of openness towards the LBTQ+ community prior to 2016. Notable instances of this tolerance included the acceptance of the “waria” community (individuals assigned male at birth who adopted feminine gender expressions, recognized as a third gender in Indonesia), LGBTQ+ oriented events like the Q! Film Festival, and vibrant LGBTQ+ nightlife options in major cities. Additionally, advocacy groups operated with relative freedom, promoting education and community support.
Since the mid-2010s, the situation for Indonesias LGBTQ+ community has deteriorated significantly. Escalating anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric from governments and religious figures, along with proposed legal changes, have heightened risks. This has led to fewer LGBTQ+ events, increased scrutiny of advocacy groups, and forced many in the community to seek safer environments either domestically or abroad.
Cover: Anete Lusina
