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View all search resultsBroadcasting bill sparks alarm over threat to LGBT rights
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People take part in a rally against the LGBT community in Bogor, West Java, on July 14, 2023. (Antara/Arif Firmansyah)
A
controversial broadcasting bill seeking to ban lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) content across conventional and online media has sparked widespread criticism, with activists warning it could fuel further discrimination and endanger the rights and safety of the marginalized community.
The revision to the 2002 Broadcasting Law, which is back under deliberation in the House of Representatives and included in the 2025 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) despite public backlash last year, contains provisions that explicitly prohibit the depiction of what it terms “LGBT behavior”. It also bars the use of models perceived to promote such behavior.
In addition to regulating content, the draft law introduces new broadcasting standards that exclude LGBT representation from the list of approved material, raising concerns among rights groups about the bill’s broader implications for civil liberties and freedom of expression.
Arus Pelangi, an LGBT advocacy organization, said the legislation would severely restrict the visibility and voice of the community, which already faces deep-rooted stigma and discrimination.
“The bill instills fear in our community, as their right to speak out and express themselves would be taken away,” Arus Pelangi general secretary Echa Waode told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Read also: Opposition grows to broadcasting bill that threatens press freedom
She noted that many LGBT individuals in the country, who are often denied access to formal employment, turn to careers in entertainment or content creation online. The bill’s sweeping media restrictions, including on digital platforms, could jeopardize their livelihoods.
