Indonesia Calls LGBTQ+ Culture a National Security Threat, Prompting Harassment

President Prabowo Subianto issued a 70‑page presidential regulation on Indonesia’s national defence policy that lists non‑military threats such as illegal trafficking, terrorism and, notably, “the promotion of LGBTQ culture.” The regulation instructs ministries, state institutions and regional administrations to respond to these identified threats.

Human‑rights groups warn the classification could legitimize new discriminatory laws. Albert Wirya, executive director of the Legal Aid Institute for the People, said the regulation “provides new legitimation both for the central government and regional administrations to enact legislation that penalises and discriminates against LGBTQ individuals merely because of their identities.” Human Rights Watch reported that at least ten public universities have adopted rules restricting discussion of gender and sexual diversity, and that attacks on LGBTQ students have increased during Pride Month 2026. Meenakshi Ganguly of Human Rights Watch said Indonesian authorities are “looking the other way during an upsurge of attacks on LGBT university students and others.” The conservative Indonesian Ulema Council has also called for harsher criminal penalties for same‑sex relationships.