HKIndonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs is developing educational materials intended to discourage what officials describe as the 'spread of LGBT culture,' following a presidential regulation that classified the issue as a non-military security threat. The proposed content could be integrated into religious education in both secular and Islamic schools, Friday prayers, family development programs, and other religious activities. While the government insists this initiative does not aim to criminalize any group, experts and LGBTQ+ advocates warn that introducing such topics in classrooms may exacerbate stigma surrounding sexual orientation. They emphasize that there is no scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of anti-LGBT education in altering someone's sexual identity and highlight potential negative impacts on children's mental health. Although same-sex relationships are not illegal nationwide, members of the LGBTQ+ community face significant social stigma, particularly in Aceh, where sharia law permits punishment for same-sex behavior.
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