Gay Guide Indonesia

The age of consent for homosexual acts is 18 years. In the Indonesian province of Aceh, the only one in which Shariah law applies and which can autonomously decide on punishments and the nature of offences, a controversial new law has been introduced. It re-introduces whipping to punish homosexual sexual intercourse - and also applies to tourists from abroad. This new rule prohibits sexual intercourse between men and between women and can equally be applied to Muslims and non-Muslims. Anyone who is caught must expect 100 months in prison, 100 lashings or a fine. In May 2017, two young gay men were publicly flogged for having had consensual sex with one another. Indonesia has the largest percentage of a Muslim population of an Eastern Asian country, but outside Aceh the faith is mostly lived in a more moderate form. Surprisingly, there are no legal regulations dealing with HIV/AIDS, although, as in most countries in the region, this is a major problem. Infected people may be denieded entry into the country at all or they are quarantined. In the larger cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya and Jogyakarta and, naturally, on Bali, you can find a developed gay scene with bars and clubs. Another place to meet like-minded people is at the juice bars in chic shopping centres of the bigger cities.