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eb. 7, Online

Leading gay activist and sociologist Dede Oetomo might be the first known homosexual to lead the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) if he makes the leadership selection.

Dede, human rights activist Sandyawan Sumardi and former law and human rights director general Hafid Abbas, are among the 363 applicants who aspire to lead the commission.

Sandyawan was a member of the government-appointed fact finding team for the May 1998 riots. The former priest continues to work with the urban poor in South Jakarta.

Your comments:

Biological sexuality is not defined by the clothing, adopted behavior or mutilation of the body by surgery. Gender and “marriage” are common sense terms that have been in use ever since mankind formed societies.

Certain groups have an interest in perverting the common sense understanding of sex, gender and marriage, misinforming young people and encouraging them in experimentation. This is a worldwide
phenomenon.

According to the latest wide survey in the UK, 0.5 percent of the population are homosexuals, 0.4 percent are lesbians and about 0.1 percent confused.

The fact that this sexual practice, which is practiced by less than 1 percent of the population, is covered in almost every Hollywood film and on TV proves that the media have an agenda of propaganda.

There are hundreds of other minority groups at 1 percent or above, who never get mentioned, ever! The deaf, the blind, agoraphobics are all much more important than the group this person represents.

A single hormone in the womb determines gender. Granted that biology’s natural variation in hormonal composition will create some people with different sensitivities and perceptions.

But there is no reason to treat them as heroes who should automatically be granted positions on a national human rights commission.

This person is using the “hero” status that Hollywood projects of non-heterosexuals to embarrass
Indonesia’s human rights commission to grant him the job.

I am sure there are many better-qualified candidates, without agendas, who would simply work for the rights of all. If the human rights commission wants to be represented by minorities, then let them choose a minority above the 0.5 percent level of representation.
Tony Chu
Miami

Tony, repeated surveys have found that the percentage of gay people in society is generally 11-13 percent of the population, and that is in any country.

You appear to also be confused between homosexuality and transgender — these are different and perhaps you need to do some more research on this. And why do you think he can’t do his job just because he is gay?

He works with the urban poor in Jakarta so it seems that his sexuality is not the only thing that defines him. Indeed, I’m sure he will focus on the human rights of the poor in Indonesia.

Minorities are generally the ones who have their rights abused, so I can’t think of a better choice for this role. Please take your bizarre and unsupportable bigotry somewhere else.
Michael Hatherell
Jakarta