Criminal Code Contains LGBT Behavior, Not Nature: Govt Official

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Politics, and Human Rights Coordinating Minister Mahfud MD on Sunday elaborated that LGBT is not contained in Indonesia’s new criminal code (KUHP) as issues related to aspects of naturality, such as the aforementioned gender identity, cannot be disputed by law. 

“The [new criminal code] cannot contain bans against LGBT. There are none,” said Mahfud MD as cited from his statement in the KAHMI Nasional Youtube content on May 21. “LGBT as a natural bearing cannot be banned.”

However, the Minister elaborated that the behavior shown by the community is banned but not the nature of same-sex attraction among creations of a divine being.

“God created some people to live a homosexual, lesbian life, therefore, it cannot be banned. But the behavior aspect that is shown is what’s not permissible," he said.

Mahfud asserted that the new criminal code includes crimes that could be derived from LGBT behavior.

"In the current criminal code, which will apply later, the formulation states anyone who has sexual relations outside of marriage with a minor. This is [an aspect] where LGBT can be affiliated to though not all of them," said the coordinating minister who specifically oversees human rights issues.

Mahfud explained that proving LGBT behavior enacted by adults is something that is difficult to prove. "Some people don't want to witness LGBT [behavior] and so on, there are many things that people don't understand, so even after the promulgation they are still protesting, foreign communities also protest. This is where we will explain everything," he said.

MIRZA BAGASKARA

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