Even without controversial changes to the Criminal Code that would criminalise same sex relations, many local level bylaws already persecute sexual and gender minorities in the name of public order and decency.

What are the difficulties faced by LGBT Indonesians? How do they see their place in society? What are the barriers to basic services, including health care and what are the implications for this community and Indonesian society as a whole if they are left behind?

In Talking Indonesia this week, Dr Jemma Purdey discusses inclusion, access and empowerment for LGBT Indonesians with Ignatius Praptoraharjo (Gambit) a research consultant at the Centre for Health Policy and Management at Gadjah Mada University and the HIV AIDS Research Centre, Atma Jaya Catholic University. Gambit completed his doctorate 2010 at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and has been a recipient of the UIC-AIDS International Training and Research Program Scholarship from the US National Institute of Health. Gambit was recently in Melbourne for a series of talks. He sat down with Talking Indonesia as the Covid-19 outbreak was gathering momentum.

In 2020, the Talking Indonesia podcast is co-hosted by Dr Jemma Purdey from the Australia-Indonesia Centre, Dr Dave McRae from the University of Melbourne’s Asia Institute, Dr Charlotte Setijadi from the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore and Dr Dirk Tomsa from La Trobe University.

Look out for a new Talking Indonesia podcast every fortnight. Catch up on previous episodes here, subscribe via iTunes or listen via your favourite podcasting app.

Photo: @AP 2018