Entry #20544: Homosexual activity in Indonesia

Current Version

RegionIndonesia
IssueHomosexual activity
StatusVaries by Region
Start DateJan 2, 2026
End Date(none)
DescriptionAccording to Human Dignity Trust, there hasn't been a direct change in homosexuality laws after the 2023 criminal code came into force on January 2, 2026. Homosexuality is only illegal in Aceh and South Sumatra provinces in Indonesia.

However, several International NGOs like Human Rights Watch have worried about the far-reaching implications of the new criminal code to LGBTQ people, even if same-sex sexual activity itself isn't explicitly criminalized in the new criminal code.
Sourceshttps://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/indonesia/
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/indonesia
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63869078
https://thenightly.com.au/world/smartraveller-australian-tourists-warned-they-could-be-jailed-for-sex-outside-marriage-in-indonesia-c-21188322
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesias-new-criminal-code-requires-public-oversight-minister-says-2025-12-31/
https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/12/08/indonesia-new-criminal-code-disastrous-rights
https://the-world-is-watching.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-Indonesia-Penal-Code.pdf


Revision History (4)

edited by jadeywadey. merging with duplicate

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Old Value New Value (Current)
DescriptionAccording to Human Dignity Trust, there hasn't been a direct change in homosexuality laws after the 2023 criminal code came into force on January 2, 2026. Homosexuality is only illegal in Aceh and South Sumatra provinces in Indonesia. According to Human Dignity Trust, there hasn't been a direct change in homosexuality laws after the 2023 criminal code came into force on January 2, 2026. Homosexuality is only illegal in Aceh and South Sumatra provinces in Indonesia.

However, several International NGOs like Human Rights Watch have worried about the far-reaching implications of the new criminal code to LGBTQ people, even if same-sex sexual activity itself isn't explicitly criminalized in the new criminal code.
Show Difference
According to Human Dignity Trust, there hasn't been a direct change in homosexuality laws after the 2023 criminal code came into force on January 2, 2026. Homosexuality is only illegal in Aceh and South Sumatra provinces in Indonesia. However, several International NGOs like Human Rights Watch have worried about the far-reaching implications of the new criminal code to LGBTQ people, even if same-sex sexual activity itself isn't explicitly criminalized in the new criminal code.

edited by jadeywadey. merging with duplicate

Helpful?
0
Old Value New Value
Sourceshttps://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/indonesia/
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/indonesia
https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/indonesia/
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/indonesia
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63869078
https://thenightly.com.au/world/smartraveller-australian-tourists-warned-they-could-be-jailed-for-sex-outside-marriage-in-indonesia-c-21188322
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesias-new-criminal-code-requires-public-oversight-minister-says-2025-12-31/
https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/12/08/indonesia-new-criminal-code-disastrous-rights
https://the-world-is-watching.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-Indonesia-Penal-Code.pdf
Show Difference
https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/indonesia/ https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/indonesia https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/indonesia/ https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/indonesia https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63869078 https://thenightly.com.au/world/smartraveller-australian-tourists-warned-they-could-be-jailed-for-sex-outside-marriage-in-indonesia-c-21188322 https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesias-new-criminal-code-requires-public-oversight-minister-says-2025-12-31/ https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/12/08/indonesia-new-criminal-code-disastrous-rights https://the-world-is-watching.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-Indonesia-Penal-Code.pdf

edited by LGBTsoutheastasian. Per discussion in discord, International NGOs haven't changed the law status for Indonesia because the new law hasn't directly criminalized homosexuality.

Helpful?
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Old Value (Original) New Value
Sourceshttps://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/indonesia/https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/indonesia/
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/indonesia
Show Difference
https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/indonesia/ https://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/indonesia/ https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/indonesia
Reports (4)
  • Newer law has been passed " https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63869078 https://thenightly.com.au/world/smartraveller-australian-tourists-warned-they-could-be-jailed-for-sex-outside-marriage-in-indonesia-c-21188322 https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesias-new-criminal-code-requires-public-oversight-minister-says-2025-12-31/"
  • Newer law has been passed "Outside of Sumatera Selatan and Aceh, legality of homosexuality should be considered ambiguous because of the new sex before marriage law https://www.baliholidaydeals.com.au/bali-travel-blog/indonesia-revamps-its-laws-what-the-sex-outside-marriage-law-means-for-your-2026-bali-holiday/"
  • Newer law has been passed "There is an ambiguous law that can affect LGBT people, as Human Rights NGOs stated. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63869078 https://thenightly.com.au/world/smartraveller-australian-tourists-warned-they-could-be-jailed-for-sex-outside-marriage-in-indonesia-c-21188322 https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesias-new-criminal-code-requires-public-oversight-minister-says-2025-12-31/"
  • Newer law has been passed "Criminal Code of 2023 came into force and, despite not criminalising directly, some NGOs like HRW expressed worry about law application on homosexual activity. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63869078 https://thenightly.com.au/world/smartraveller-australian-tourists-warned-they-could-be-jailed-for-sex-outside-marriage-in-indonesia-c-21188322 https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesias-new-criminal-code-requires-public-oversight-minister-says-2025-12-31/"

created by LGBTsoutheastasian

Helpful?
0
Original entry
StatusVaries by Region
Start DateJan 2, 2026
End Date(none)
DescriptionAccording to Human Dignity Trust, there hasn't been a direct change in homosexuality laws after the 2023 criminal code came into force on January 2, 2026. Homosexuality is only illegal in Aceh and South Sumatra provinces in Indonesia.
Sourceshttps://www.humandignitytrust.org/country-profile/indonesia/