Minister denies calling for university LGBT ban

Rappler 30 January 2016

Amid a backlash following his statement on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, students, Muhammad Nasir, the minister of research, technology and higher education, defended himself last Tuesday, denying he called for a ban on gays and lesbians from the campus of the University of Indonesia, reports Rappler.

His statements come after his controversial reaction to recent attacks on a student group called the Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies, or SGRC, which has LGBT members and is known to give advice to LGBT students. Nasir sided with anti-LGBT sentiments and was quoted as saying: “There are standards of values and morals to uphold. A university is a moral safeguard." He also said sexuality is the choice of an individual, but said universities must uphold a conducive academic environment.

Last Tuesday Nasir acknowledged that it was not his decision whether to ban LGBTs on campus or not. "To ban or not to ban LGBTs on campus is not my authority, so don’t misunderstand," he said, adding he does not want to intervene and it is up to the university on how it will handle SGRC.
Full report on the Rappler site

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