Indonesian Minority Justice Review
Vol. 1 No. 1 (2024): January, 2024

Defending the Unseen: The Legal Struggles of Indonesia’s LGBTQ+ Community

Elena Liu-Müller (Universität Leipzig)
Vivienne Rochefort (Université de Paris)
Faisal Zainuddin (Universitas Gadjah Mada)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Jan 2024

Abstract

This paper examines the legal challenges faced by Indonesia’s LGBTQ+ community, focusing on the legal struggles for recognition, protection, and rights within a predominantly conservative and religious society. While same-sex relationships are not explicitly criminalized under Indonesian law, LGBTQ+ individuals often face harassment, discrimination, and violence, exacerbated by societal stigma and political opposition. The study investigates the legal landscape for LGBTQ+ rights, analyzing the lack of protective laws, the impact of regional by-laws that criminalize homosexual acts, and the social and political context that complicates legal protections. Through case studies, interviews with LGBTQ+ activists, and legal experts, the paper highlights the ways in which LGBTQ+ individuals are excluded from legal protections such as marriage, inheritance, and employment rights. The findings show that despite some civil society efforts, legal reform has been slow, and LGBTQ+ individuals remain marginalized in both legal and social contexts. The paper concludes by calling for comprehensive legal reforms, including the decriminalization of same-sex relationships, anti-discrimination laws, and a broader cultural shift towards acceptance, in order to defend the rights and dignity of Indonesia’s LGBTQ+ community.

Copyrights © 2024






Journal Info

Abbrev

minority

Publisher

Subject

Description

Indonesian Minority Justice Review (e-ISSN: 3164-581X) is a peer-reviewed, open-access academic journal published by COLLEGIUM JUSTICIA INDONESIA in online format (electronic journal). First published in 2024, the journal is issued quarterly in January, April, July, and October. It provides an ...