The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Organization (“ILGA”), formerly known simply as “International Lesbian and Gay Organization” the world’s largest LGBTI organization, with nearly 700 member organizations in 110 nation-states across the world commented today about the cancellation of a worldwide conference due to threats, protests, and violence.

ILGA is the only worldwide federation campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) rights and was established in 1978. The aim of ILGA is to work for the equality of LGBTI people and their liberation from all forms of discrimination. It seeks to achieve this aim through the worldwide cooperation and mutual support of its members.

ILGA ASIA is the Asian branch of ILGA and it has successfully organized conferences in India, the Philippines and Thailand in the past. ILGA ASIA has over 160 member organizations in more than 17 nation-states across Asia.

ILGA ASIA accepted the proposal of GAYa NUSANTARA, the oldest LGBT organization in Indonesia, to host the fourth Regional Conference of ILGA Asia in Surabaya, Indonesia.

The conference organizers received endorsements from the local city police to hold the conference. However, as news of the conference became known to local media and groups of fundamentalists, who opposed the conference, they began to threaten to disrupt the conference and upset the participants with violent protests. The police withdrew their endorsement of the conference fearing to not be able to control the fundamentalists and the safety of the conference participants.

The board later received information that a group of fundamentalists had mobilized themselves after Friday prayers and were heading towards the hotel. For the safety of the participants and in the best interest of all those involved, the board decided to cancel the program of events for the afternoon session.

The heads of the fundamentalist groups entered the hotel demanding to speak to the ILGA ASIA organizers and Mr. King Oey, a member of the ILGA ASIA’s Regional Board of Directors and part of the organizing committee tried to reason with them, only to be assaulted in return.

Abdussomad Bukhori, a prominent member of the cleric council, released the following statement:

“The event will hurt Indonesian Muslims because lesbians and gays are contrary to Islamic teaching,” he said. “We will continue to reject any kind of homosexual event.”

Renato Sabbadini, Co-Secretary-General of ILGA Worldwide (pictured) said the rule of law was basically suspended during the Islamist mob’s attack on the gay conference. By early evening, it became necessary to evacuate the participants in groups of four. Some were aided by their embassies, others who managed to change their flights were taken directly to the airport, whilst others were moved to different hotels and some left Surabaya by land to neighboring cities.

The Secretaries General of ILGA left the hotel with the last participants to a hotel near the airport, where the last departures were arranged. On the same day, news spread in relation to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, announcing a court action against the organizing committee for “activities against religion”.

ILGA, as part of an international coalition of LGBTI rights defenders, has initiated a coordinated operation to denounce and protest against the attack that occurred, with the concerned international bodies and to demand action from these as a result. Many voices have risen, in Indonesia and in different countries around the world, demanding the respect of human rights of LGBT people and the right to assembly.

The demand of action is based on the fact that in Indonesia:

(a) The constitution has a strong equality clause
(b) The constitution is based on secular principles
(c) Indonesia has ratified the major United Nations human rights treaties

Members of ILGA in the United States include California’s Marriage Equality USA, Georgia Equality,  Kentucky Equality Federation, Human Rights Watch (not to be confused with Human Rights Campaign), and other statewide LGBTI advocacy organizations.

ILGA ASIA Regional Board of Directors released the following statement:

The ILGA ASIA Regional Board of Directors stands firm in our belief that all people are created equal and free and that we all have the right to live as we are, and to love who we love. This incident has not weakened our movement but has only made us stronger. For we know our work is important and what we do changes the lives of so many people around Asia and the world. Our determination is that much stronger and our belief is that much more. Our work is not over until all people can live in a world that accepts us for who we are.