People showing “deviations” in their sexual or gender identity weren’t allowed to apply.
Governmental bodies in Indonesia are facing criticism for putting up job advertisements that exclude members of the LGBTQ community, and claiming they only want “normal ones.”
The Jakarta Post reports that the Ministries of Defence and Trade, as well as the Attorney’s Office (AGO) were listing job advertisements saying that applicants “must not be mentally disabled and not show sexual orientation or behavioural deviations.”
A spokesperson for the Attorney’s Office defended the exclusions, saying: “I mean, we just want the normal ones. We don’t want [to accept] the odd ones […]”
The spokesperson stopped short of confirming whether this ban would be considered discriminatory under Indonesian law.
However, Arsul Sani, a politician in the United Development Party did say the ban was discriminatory, saying: “They shouldn’t be discriminated against just because of their sexual orientation.”
Arsul added that members of the LGBTQ community shouldn’t be barred from applying for civil servant jobs, so long as they didn’t break the law.
Ninik Rahayu, the Ombudsman commissioner added that some ministries had already begun removing the measures: “I heard that the Trade Ministry has already changed it. The AGO, however, has maintained the requirement.”
Usman Hamid, Amnesty International Indonesia’s executive director called the ban an “appalling move” adding: “The discriminatory criteria should be withdrawn immediately. It’s against Indonesia’s constitution, and against Indonesia’s obligations under international human rights law.”
Lawmakers are set to ask the AGO for clarification on the ban next week.
Indonesia is not a safe place for the LGBTQ community, with some areas in the country performing exorcisms in an attempt to try and ‘cure’ their homosexuality.
And recently, Indonesia’s president had to postpone a bill, which would have banned sex outside of marriage, and would in effect have been a subtle ban on homosexuality due to same-sex marriages being illegal in the country.
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