Exhibiting a growing intolerance toward the LGBT community, Indonesia is moving toward banning gay networking apps.
Time reports that a government official has confirmed that authorities are already moving to block at least three apps — Grindr, Blued and BoyAhoy — after a request from police.
“We are starting to block LGBT applications,” the report cited communications ministry spokesperson Noor Iza as saying, adding that the move was intended to target services that promote “sexual deviancy.”
According to BuzzFeed the move comes several months after the Ministry of Communication announced it would craft a ban on LGBT “propaganda” in March, part of an unprecedented crackdown on LGBT rights in the country. The Constitutional Court is separately considering a petition that could make homosexuality a crime in Indonesia for the first time.
The meeting was initially convened to review a police request to block Grindr and 17 other gay apps they allege were used by a child prostitution ring. But the meeting reviewed a broader list, said Ericson Siregar, an officer with the National Police Criminal Investigations Department who participated in the meeting, because the Ministry of Communication had “previously investigated gay applications” and identified dozens for “promoting LGBT.”
“We would be pleased if the communication ministry blocked [gay apps] without hesitation because the smell of pornography is so strong on them, such as exhibiting nudity,” Siregar said.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal throughout most of Indonesia yet Indonesian law does not protect the LGBT community against discrimination and possible hate crimes. Currently, Indonesia does not recognize same-sex marriage.
