Medan (Detik Sumut) – Bobby Nasution, the mayor of the North Sumatra city of Medan, has stressed that they reject Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) behaviour.

The North Sumatra (Sumut) chapter of the country's peak Islamic body, the Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI), has welcomed Nasution's position on LGBT which is considered to be in conflict with religious teachings.

As reported by Detik Sumut, Nasution – who is also President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's son-in-law – claimed that he saw young men out together along the length of the road in front of the Medan mayor's office when he attended New Years Eve celebrations last night.

"All along the road from in front of the mayor's office, really I saw it, it was like, men with men (couples), there isn't any, yes, Medan city doesn't have any LGBT, we're anti-LGBT", said Nasution on Sunday January 1.

Nasution explained that his anti-LGBT position reflects an appeal from religious figures, saying that LGBT must be avoided because it represents a foreign culture.

"Earlier also, the message from our religious figures was we must avoid things such as this, we must also put a stop to sin, things that come from outside our culture", he asserted.

According to Nasution, there is not one ethnic group in Medan that teaches people to partner with the same sex. Nasution is asking that the Medan culture be brought to the fore during daily activities.

"There isn't one ethnic [group] in Medan city that teaches same sex partnerships, so we must put forward our culture, both in terms of culture as well as in daily life, likewise also in partnerships", explained Nasution.

Nasution then prayed that the residents of Medan who are still single get married quickly. He also appealed to husband and wife couples only to have two children.

"So for those who are single we pray that in 2023 you'll get married quickly, and for those who are already married to have children, and for those who already have children, please, have more, but don't have too many, two's enough", he said.

North Sumatra MUI Chairperson Maratua Simanjuntak meanwhile said he appreciates Nasution's attitude, asserting that LGBT conflicts with religious teachings.

"Of course we support [his stand], actually LGBT is not justified under religion. So if the mayor is being like this then the MUI thanks him", Simanjuntak told Detik Sumut on Sunday.

Simanjuntak claimed that religious teachings can be applied well if regional heads support them, so he asserted that LGBT behaviour must not be allowed to grow.

"Because something can be carried out well if the authorities implement it well, because the gaps that make it possible must be blocked", he said.

The MUI also touched on articles in the new Criminal Code (KUHP) that was recently enacted by the Indonesian government which ban sexual acts between men and women in the same home without the bond of marriage (cohabitation).

"Moreover, under the newly enacted KUHP on one hand there is also (rules) on relationships between men and women who are not married (but living in one house) including adultery, let alone same-sex behaviour, both men and men and women and women, because it is prohibited in religion", he asserted. (SAR/ATA)

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Walkot Bobby Tegaskan Medan Anti LGBT, MUI Sumut Dukung Penuh".]

Source: https://www.detik.com/sumut/wisata/d-6492925/walkot-bobby-tegaskan-kota-medan-tolak-lgbt