Komnas HAM: LGBT Communities in Medan 'Insecure' about Voting in 2024 Elections

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Human Rights Commission or Komnas HAM found a number human rights issues over the implementation of the 2024 elections in North Sumatra. One of them was in the city of Medan, whereas the LGBT communities are concerned about participating in the elections.

According to Komnas HAM commissioner Pramono Ubaid Tanthowi, their fear stemmed from an open statement by Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution, which declared Medan as an anti-LTGBT city.

"Our LGBT friends feel even more insecure because there was a statement from their regional leadership that Medan City is an LGBT-free city," Pramono said in a press conference on the '2024 Pre-Election Observation Results and Simultaneous Regional Elections', Friday, May 12.

Bobby Nasution declared Medan as an anti-LGBT city after seeing many same-sex couples during the 2023 New Year's Eve celebration when walking from the Mayor's Office to a New Year's celebration event at Raden Saleh Road.

Bobby asked Medan residents to 'avoid the behavior', saying it is against both religious teachings and local culture. "There should be no such thing. The city of Medan knows no LGBT, we are anti-LGBT!" Bobby on January 1st.

According to Ubaid, Komnas HAM received reports that the statement made LGBT groups fear coming to the polling stations (TPS). Pramono is worried that this problem will make LGBT people lose their right to vote.

"They are reluctant to come to the voting booths following the open statement by Bobby," he said.

M ROSSENO AJI

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