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IV/AIDS high-risk groups, who are already reluctant to seek medical help for reproductive health services for fear of stigma, risk greater discrimination if the state includes religious values in articles regulating reproductive health services, a doctor warns.

"I don't agree that religion should be included in health matters," said Maya Trisiswati, from the Indonesian Family Planning Association (PKBI), who works to provide health services for gay men and transvestites.

"Get religion *out of it*. Each to their own."

The version of the health bill currently being deliberated includes articles on reproductive health that state everyone has the right to a healthy sexual life with their lawful partners, and that reproductive health services do not violate religious norms - all of which have drawn criticism from civil groups.

"Health is every human's basic right, irrespective of sexual orientation," Maya said.

"If we talk about gay men, there will never be any lawful gay couples *in Indonesia*. We're talking about a humanity *issue* that shouldn't be boxed in different groups.

"Does someone with a sexually transmitted disease have to present a marriage certificate or risk not being treated? That's very na*ve," she added.

HIV/AIDS prevention activist Yakub Gunawan said gay men and transsexuals were fearful of the stigma when they needed health services.

"They usually seek medical help after they feel the symptoms, and they rarely seek services that could prevent them from contracting diseases," he said.

Maya said most of them felt discriminated against, either by medical practitioners or other patients.

"For instance, if a transsexual comes to a health post, not only do the staff discriminate against them, but some of the patients also move away and sit further from them," she said.

She urged medical workers to drastically change their paradigm.

"What's happening here is that Indonesians are being more and more influenced in normative stuff, and neglecting the essential things," she said.

The health bill, Maya went on, should be revised lest it legalize discrimination against HIV/AIDS high-risk groups.

"The fact is gay people live among us and we can't ignore them," she said.

"If we want to thoroughly address public health, there shouldn't be any discrimination."