Irsyan Hasyim, Depok – The Depok Love Society has questioned the urgency of planned deliberations on an Anti-Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Draft Regional Regulation or Raperda Anti-LGBT by the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) which was proposed by the Depok municipal government (pemkot).

“This Raperda must not be allowed to happen, the mayor’s (anti-LGBT) decree must be revoked”, said Depok Love Society representative Antarini Arna when contacted by Tempo on Saturday July 20.

Arna explained that anti-violence means preventing violence taking place and responding when it does. “If it’s anti-LGBT what does this mean? Because in the LGBT community everyone is human”, she said.

Seven political party fractions in the Depok City DPRD have signed off on an agreement to draft an anti-LGBT bylaw. But the Depok municipal government says that it is already too late to deliberate the bylaw this year.

“It can be resubmitted next year”, said Depok Mayor Muhammad Idris at the Depok DRDD building on Friday July 19.

According to Arna, if discussed from the perspective of human rights (HAM) it obviously conflicts with preparing to draw up an anti-LGBT bylaw that is using a religious viewpoint. She explained that human rights uphold the principles of non-discrimination and equality.

“If seen from these two principles then it is clear that the pemkot and the Depok DPRD are in violation”, she said.

In proposing an anti-LGBT regulation, Arna explained, the Depok municipal government is not following a human rights based approach to development. The bylaw is not in accordance with the sustainable development goals and the promise of development which will not leave anyone behind.

“Will Depok city deviate from the government’s commitment to development based on human rights and the sustainable development goals? If this city is part of Indonesia then its government is not allowed to deviate from these two principles”, she said.

Arna also questioned the perspective of the survival of the family which is the justification for the anti-LGBT bylaw in Depok. She asks how families will survive in a situation which is safe and prosperous if the individual choices within families are not respected.

“(Not respecting individual choices) only exists in families which are authoritarian”, she said.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Raperda Anti LGBT Ditolak, Masyarakat Cinta Depok Bicara”.]

Source: https://metro.tempo.co/read/1226702/raperda-anti-lgbt-ditolak-masyarakat-cinta-depok-bicara