Last month a proposed penal code in Indonesia, that would make sex outside marriage a crime punishable by up to 2 years in prison, created sensational media headlines and travel warnings of a “bonking ban” for Australian tourists visiting Bali.
Elsewhere in Indonesia, student protesters have taken to the streets in multiple cities to protest against the newly proposed code and also concerns about the roll back of corruption laws. LGBT flags have been spotted among the crowds.
In this extended interview with Dédé Oetomo, considered the godfather of LGBTI rights in Indonesia, we hear what he thinks about ‘bonking bans’ and social media responses and much more importantly about his personal story, the history of human rights, democracy and his insights into the current issues.
World Wide Wave explores what we as community can do to support our brothers and sisters in Indonesia.