Homosexual activity: Varies by Region from Jan 1, 2002 to Jan 1, 2016.
Sex between consenting adults (18 years of age by the Law on Child Protection, No.
23/2002) of the same sex or gender is not criminalized in the Indonesian Penal Code.
There are three exceptions where homosexuality is marginalized in local ordinances:
1. District Ordinance on Social Order (No. 10/2007) in Banjar, South Kalimantan Province. It
mentions “abnormal” homosexual and heterosexual acts (in addition to “normal” ones) in
its definition of “prostitute.” No explanation is given for “normal” or “abnormal” acts. It also
prohibits the formation of organizations “leading to immoral acts” that are “unacceptable to
the culture of [local] society.” These are later explained by giving examples of lesbian and gay
organizations “and the like.”
2. City Ordinance on the Development of a Value System in Social Life Based on the Teachings of
Islam and Local Social Norms (No. 12/2009) in Tasikmalaya, West Java. It prohibits adultery and
prostitution, both heterosexual and homosexual.
3. City Ordinance on the Prevention, Eradication and Prosecution of Social Ills (No. 9/2010)
in Padang Panjang, West Sumatra. The section with de$nition of terms explicitly mentions
“homosexual and lesbian” relationships and later prohibits such relationships and prohibits
persons from “o#ering themselves for homosexual and lesbian relationships either with or
without payment.”
Alongside these local ordinances, Aceh province (a province with significant legislative autonomy from the rest of Indonesia) from October, 2015, criminalises homosexual sex between muslim men with a punishment of up to 100 lashes.
Sources: Being LGBT in Asia - Indonesia Report 2014
asia-pacific.undp.org/conte…
loc.gov/law/foreign-news/ar…