Thousands Take Part in Anti-LGBT Rally in Indonesian City of Padang

Thousands of people joined an anti-LGBT rally led by Mayor Mahyeldi Ansharullah in Padang, the capital of Indonesia’s West Sumatra province, on Sunday, November 18. The rally, which was part of the “Vice-Free Padang” campaign, was also attended by other government officials, including the police chief and regional House speaker, who earlier signed an a declaration opposing gambling, drugs, alcohol, non-marital sex and LGBT community. Mayor Mahyeldi warned people committing “vices” and LGBT acts would not be welcomed in Padang, and vowed to send municipal police to the streets every night in face of those acts. Protesters marched on the streets of Padang, carrying banners and posters that said, “Save Padang From LGBT” and “Drive Them Away! LGBT People Are Not Minang People.” (Minang is the ethnic group who live in West Sumatra.) Shamsi Ali, an Indonesian Muslim cleric who led a New York City mosque and who is also known for his interfaith work, was among the Muslim preachers who gave sermons in the event. Anti-LGBT sentiments had ramped up in Indonesia in recent weeks. Bogor Mayor Aria Bima agreed to draft anti-LGBT legislation after thousands of anti-LGBT demonstrators marched to his office in Bogor, just outside Jakarta, on November 9. Days earlier, on November 5, around 20,000 protesters, many of whom students, joined an anti-LGBT rally in Payakumbuh, in West Sumatra province. The march was led by the town’s mayor, Riza Falepi. Credit: Junaidi Kasim via Storyful