Indonesia’s clerics warn against men in dresses for Independence festivities

Indonesia's top Islamic clerical body, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), has cautioned men against donning women's clothing during Independence Day festivities. This warning comes from a tradition that has existed for years, where men in dresses play football as part of the annual fun. However, amid a surge in anti-LGBTQ sentiment within the predominantly Muslim Southeast Asian nation, the MUI has stepped in to enforce the prohibition, deeming such behavior "haram" or forbidden.

The MUI's intervention is aimed at thwarting what it perceives as a covert campaign by the Lesbian, Gay, Sodomy, and Obscenity (LGSP) movement, the acronym it promotes as an alternative term for LGBT. Each year, Indonesians partake in games and parades to mark the nation's declaration of independence on August 17, 1945, from centuries of colonial rule. Activities range from tug-of-war, sack races, and cracker-eating contests to greased pole climbing and vibrant float parades.

While men traditionally donning dresses and hijab for football games is generally considered humorous and not a declaration of gender identity, the MUI has warned that the growing prevalence of such actions is seen as a violation of sharia and social norms. The council's Fatwa Commission extended this caution to women who dress as men.

This is not the first time the MUI has spoken out against gender-bending attire, but its latest warning was issued in light of a recent uptick in physical attacks on gay individuals and a presidential decree that labels LGBT culture a security threat.