UI Clarifies Student Body's LGBT Study Does Not Reflect Official Campus Stance

The University of Indonesia (UI) has responded to a viral post containing a study by the Student Executive Body (BEM) of the Faculty of Psychology regarding LGBT issues. UI stated that the study by BEM does not represent the official stance of the university.

As seen on several social media accounts on Friday (3/7/2026), BEM Psychology UI uploaded content containing the results of a 2008 American Psychological Association study. The study stated that no research supports the viewpoint that homosexuality is a mental disorder or a form of deviance.

The post has been deleted from the BEM Psychology UI Instagram account. However, screenshots of it have gone viral and were uploaded by several other accounts.

UI then responded to the viral post. UI stated that studies from student organisations do not reflect the official position of UI as an institution.

“We understand the public attention regarding content produced by one of the student organisations within the Faculty of Psychology, University of Indonesia. We need to emphasise that the study material of student organisations does not reflect the official position of the University of Indonesia institution,” UI wrote on its official Instagram account.

UI stated its commitment to Pancasila, national values, and the regulations in force in Indonesia. UI also said the post from BEM Psychology contained psychological science literature regarding the classification of mental health, which falls within the academic domain.

“It needs to be clarified that the reference cited in the content is psychological science literature regarding the classification of mental health, which falls within the academic domain. Academic references to scientific literature are fundamentally different from campaigns or the dissemination of lifestyles. The University of Indonesia does not organise, facilitate, or support any lifestyle dissemination campaigns,” UI wrote.

UI stated that the core of the study was the rejection of violence and persecution against fellow campus members. UI guarantees a campus free from intimidation.

“The core of the study is the rejection of violence and persecution against fellow campus members. The University of Indonesia guarantees a campus environment free from violence, intimidation, and the unauthorised dissemination of personal data for all its members, and continues to strengthen coordination mechanisms for communication materials that use institutional identity,” UI wrote.