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Governor hopeful says you can be LGBTI just don't put it on social media

Gay Star News - April 25, 2017

Indonesia's LGBT community survives despite growing threats from government, clerics – ABC Radio Australia. April 15, 2017
LGBTI discrimination costs Indonesia $12 billion annually – Gay Star News. March 29, 2017
France urged to push Indonesia on LGBT rights – Pink News. March 27, 2017
Why LGBT hatred suddenly spiked in Indonesia – The Guardian. February 22, 2017
Indonesian police, anti-LGBT Islamists restart sinister collaboration – Human Rights Watch Dispatches. January 23, 2017

Shannon Power – A rising political star in Indonesia has said he does not want LGBTI people flaunting their lives on social.

Ridwan Kamil is currently the mayor of Bandung the capital city of Indonesia's West Java province. He is rising in the political ranks and was slated as a potential rival to Jakarta's outgoing governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama – also known as Ahok – in the recent election.

Political commentators have said Kamil is likely to run in the 2018 West Java gubernatorial elections. But advocates are concerned about his comments on LGBTI issues.

Earlier in the year he told Tempo that he does not object to people supporting LGBTI rights, but they should not do it publicly or on social media.

'Speaking personally, basically I am not concerned about their personal affairs. But it becomes a problem when a private matter that cannot be accepted as the norm is published,' Ridwan told Tempo.

'So, if there are publications on an account like that, I would definitely find a way to block it. Social media also has rules on pornography, as it does not fit the norms.'

Ridwan is no stranger to LGBTI gaffes

Although Ridwan is seen as a progressive politician his comments on LGBTI people are worrying for some. Last month, the mayor almost caused an international incident with Thailand when he used transphobic comments against a famous Thai actress.

When actress PunPun Sutatta Udomsilp visited Bandung she posted a photo on her Instagram account praising Kamil. She called him a #BandungChampion and even used his popular nickname Kang Emil.

Kamil then reposted the photo to his own Instagram account saying, 'Regards to this Thai artist. I hope she is not a man'. Following an immediate backlash Kamil was quick to delete his comment and apologize for the 'mixed interpretations' of his post.

Source: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/governor-hopeful-says-can-lgbti-just-dont-put-social-media/.