Religious Counselors to Lead LGBTQ+ Prevention Efforts in Indonesia, Ministry Prepares Materials

Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) is developing educational materials to guide religious counselors in addressing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) issues. The initiative aims to ensure that discussions align with Islamic teachings and national regulations, strengthening the counselors' position as front-line educators in preventing the spread of LGBTQ+ culture. According to Abu, a representative from Kemenag, religious counselors play a crucial role in community engagement. They are tasked with providing religious education, fostering religious literacy, supporting families, and presenting Islam's views on various social matters in a manner that is polite, persuasive, and easily understood. The ministry emphasizes that these counselors, due to their close ties with the community, can effectively deliver sensitive information through religious gatherings, study groups, family counseling, and other religious forums. Beyond direct education, counselors are expected to enhance the public's religious literacy, enabling them to critically assess social issues and resist misinformation. Their role also includes providing dialogical and humanistic support to families and communities, adapting their approach to local social conditions. Kemenag stresses that counselors must articulate Islam's stance on social issues, including LGBTQ+ topics, with strong arguments while maintaining a respectful and persuasive tone.