Central Java Governor: LGBTQ+ is a Deviation, Not a Threat if No Crime Committed

Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi has stated that the spread of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals is a "deviation" and not a threat, provided they do not commit criminal acts. His comments came in response to Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 111 of 2025 concerning General Policies for National Defense 2025-2029, which lists the spread of LGBTQ+ as a non-military threat.

"If it's not a threat yet, right? Meaning, as long as they don't commit a crime, it's not a threat. It's just a deviation," Luthfi told reporters on Wednesday in Semarang. He was addressing the inclusion of LGBTQ+ as a non-military threat in the new regulation.

Luthfi's remarks follow a report from the Central Java Health Office indicating a change in the pattern of HIV transmission within the province, with an increasing number of cases linked to men who have sex with men (MSM).

In response to this trend, Luthfi stated that the provincial government would direct the health office to intensify prevention efforts. "So prevention must start from an early age, perhaps (starting) from school," he said. He also highlighted the availability of the provincial government's free online psychology service, 'Logis,' which can assist individuals facing issues such as bullying or what he termed "deviant behavior" associated with LGBT individuals.

The Presidential Regulation No. 111 of 2025 places the spread of LGBTQ+ alongside other non-military threats such as atheism, separatism, radicalism, and terrorism. Meanwhile, the Head of the Central Java Health Office, Zulfachmi Wahab, confirmed the shift in HIV transmission patterns, noting that recent cases frequently originate from homosexual contact.