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#UninstallGojek trends after executive shows support for LGBT community
Jakarta Post - October 14, 2018
The post, written by Gojek vice president of operations and business development Brata Santoso, was made after Gojek launched an internal campaign called #GOingALLin in conjunction with Coming Out Day.
"I'm happy to say that Gojek is taking the diversity & inclusion matter to the next level by the adoption of a non-discrimination policy toward the underrepresented group, i.e. LGBT, despite being an Indonesian company," Brata wrote.
@gojekindonesia supports LGBT and diversity in Indonesia. Thank you Gojek on #comingoutday Me and my friends feel happy knowing we're not alone pic.twitter.com/7s49n2Yn1e – Rio Damar (@rio_damar) October 12, 2018
The post sparked an online furore, with the hashtag #UninstallGojek trending on Twitter since Saturday night. Many Twitter users have posted screenshots of them uninstalling the Gojek app from their phones in protest of what they perceived as Gojek's approval of homosexuality.
Done!!! #UninstallGojek pic.twitter.com/XOUoUUXmpI – Athallah (????????) (@athlahzk) October 13, 2018
Ok... Fix, #UninstallGojek pic.twitter.com/66khrzMVbw – Sapto Prasetio (@espraszz) October 13, 2018
But many netizens have also defended Gojek, pointing out that many companies widely used in Indonesia have also openly declared their support of the LGBT community, including Twitter itself.
"I respect those who want to #UninstallGojek. That is everyone's right," Twitter user @newsplatter said. "But I also want to remind them to uninstall Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and don't use Apple either – because as far as I know all those brands support LGBT rights."
#UninstallGojek kalo mau un-install jangan separo2. Nih yang pro-gay monggo jangan dibeli produknya:))) Auto maen di sawah, pake hape nokia 3310, dan buta teknologi. pic.twitter.com/mg7bArgyQL – Woro Tyas (@Worrotyas) October 13, 2018
Gojek itself released a statement on its Twitter account saying that the post was "a personal opinion and interpretation of one of Gojek's employees about an internal event with the theme of diversity." Gojek management said the company respected diversity but also respected "Indonesian values and culture".
GO-JEK menjunjung tinggi keberagaman yang menciptakan persatuan dan keharmonisan, sejalan dengan nilai-nilai dan budaya Indonesia, yang ber-Bhinneka Tunggal Ika. pic.twitter.com/OQq7n1JmlF – GO-JEK (@gojekindonesia) October 13, 2018
Unlike in other Southeast Asian nations, homosexuality is not illegal in Indonesia, but the country has seen a rise in anti-LGBT sentiment in recent years.
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