Ministry of Religious Affairs Drafts LGBTQ Education Guidelines for Religious Counsellors

The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) is currently drafting religious education materials to serve as a guideline for religious counsellors in conveying understanding regarding LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) issues. The material is designed so that its delivery to the public is in harmony with Islamic teachings and the legal provisions in force in Indonesia. The drafting of this guideline is part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of religious counsellors in providing religious education related to various social issues developing in society, including preventing the spread of LGBTQ culture. Director General of Islamic Community Guidance at Kemenag, Abu Rokhmad, stated that religious counsellors hold a strategic position because they interact directly with the community through various religious guidance activities. “Our religious counsellors and preachers have a closeness with the community. Through counselling and religious guidance activities, they can be the spearhead in delivering education in a polite, persuasive, and easy-to-understand manner,” said Abu Rokhmad on Wednesday (8/7). He explained that the guidance is carried out through various channels, such as religious study groups, majelis taklim, family guidance, and other religious forums. Through these activities, religious counsellors are expected to help the community understand social issues based on the values of Islamic teachings. In addition to providing guidance, religious counsellors are also encouraged to improve the community’s religious literacy so they can address various social issues wisely and are not easily influenced by incorrect information. Assistance to families and communities is carried out with a dialogical, humanist approach, adapting to social conditions in the field. Abu emphasised that religious counsellors are obliged to explain Islam’s view on various social issues, including LGBTQ issues, with argumentative delivery without abandoning a polite attitude. The drafting of this educational material is an implementation of the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ duties as mandated in Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 153 of 2024 concerning the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The regulation governs the function of fostering religious life through guidance and counselling services to the community. “We are preparing this material so that religious counsellors have the same guidelines in providing education to the community. Its delivery must prioritise a wise, argumentative, and easy-to-understand approach so that the religious message can be well received,” he said. Furthermore, the material being drafted is expected to become a national reference for all religious counsellors in explaining Islam’s view on LGBTQ issues wisely and based on national legal provisions. Kemenag is also preparing a strategy for delivering the material through various existing channels, such as Friday sermons, religious study groups in mosques and prayer rooms, and family guidance. This step is expected to support the realisation of a religious life that is harmonious, peaceful, and in line with statutory regulations.