Coming down hard was the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), which told the ministry that the state should never dictate its citizens’ sexual orientations. 

“One’s sexual orientation should not be controlled by the state. Besides, there is no relation between gender identity and achievement,” Magdalena Sitorus, the Komnas Perempuan commissioner, told The Jakarta Post.

She lamented over how many government officials lacked knowledge about LGBT issues, as was obvious from their tendency to associate LGBT orientations with mental disorders.

The ministry is holding a national creative competition in various fields, such as information and technology, film and fashion. Of the 34 youths representing the provinces, 10 will be selected as youth ambassadors.

Komnas Perempuan was raising objections to the prerequisites the organizing committee required from would-be participants: that they be physically and mentally healthy and not be practicing casual or “deviant" sex, which it refers to as “LGBT”. Participants’ claims about their sexual behavior would have to be proven by a medical doctor. 

“Creative youth ambassadors should be healthy. Let me ask you, do you think a sexually deviant person is fit to be an ambassador?” Eni Budi Sri Haryani, deputy assistant to the sports and youth minister, said.

By Tuesday afternoon, the ministry had re-worded the competition’s terms and conditions. The word LGBT had been deleted, but it still said persons with “deviant sexual behaviors” were barred from taking part. (win)

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