TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies of the University of Indonesia (SGRC-UI) received intimidation and terror. Nadya Karima Melati, coordinator for facilities and finance at the SGRC-UI said that the community was accused of being a community for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT).
“We were accused of being an LGBT community and considered as more dangerous than drugs and terrorism. Actually, we just provide services and education related to sexuality and genders for teenagers,” Nadya said on her Facebook page on Sunday, January 24, 2016.
According to Nadya, SGRC members have experienced intimidation and terrors from social media, families and society.
“Some members were banished,” she added.
Nadya rejected the view that the SGRC-UI was an LGBT community.
“Our study group, the SGRC-UI, has clear organizational structure, mission statement, and activity timeline,” she argued.
The SGRC-UI fanpage reveals that the SGRC-UI is a community that was founded autonomously as other study groups. The SGRC-UI focuses on gender, sexuality, feminism, body right, patriarchy, labor, women, and reproduction health.
The LGBT Peer Support Network, initiated by the SGRC and Melela.org, is a counseling service for those who want to know more about LGBT topics. Nadya said that the counseling activity was aimed at educating public and served as a coping mechanism for those who were pressured due to their sexual preferences.
ABDUL AZIS
