LEGAL PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF LESBIAN WOMEN IN INDONESIA: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURAL DISCRIMINATION, SOCIAL NORMS AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS FRAMEWORK
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20045725Keywords:
lesbian women, structural discrimination, heteronormativity, human rights, legal protection, Indonesia, SOGIESCAbstract
This study aims to critically analyse legal protection for the rights of lesbian women in Indonesia, focusing on three main dimensions: structural discrimination within the legal system and public policy; the role of heteronormative social norms in producing stigma and marginalisation; and the implementation gap between national and international human rights frameworks. The study employs a qualitative research method using a literature review approach. The research findings indicate that legal protection for lesbian women is in a paradoxical state: on the one hand, the 1945 Constitution, Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights, CEDAW, and the ICCPR provide a strong normative foundation for non-discrimination; on the other hand, the absence of explicit recognition of sexual orientation as a protected category in secondary legislation creates interpretative loopholes that permit systematic discrimination in the spheres of education, employment, healthcare, and the judicial system. Heteronormative social norms reproduced through the institutions of the family, religion, and the mass media reinforce this structural discrimination, producing chronic minority stress and structural invisibility for lesbian women. This study concludes that effective protection requires a holistic approach encompassing the enactment of inclusive anti-discrimination legislation, the revision of the new Criminal Code to prevent the criminalisation of consensual same-sex relationships, the institutional transformation of public bureaucracy, and public education to deconstruct heteronormative norms. Without synergy between legal reform, social transformation, and consistent political commitment, the constitutional promise of equality before the law will remain empty rhetoric for lesbian women in Indonesia.
Downloads
References
Canu, U., & Tahali, A. (2023). FENOMENA LGBT DI INDONESIA DALAM PERSPEKTIF HAK ASASI MANUSIA DAN HUKUM ISLAM. Jurnal Al-Mashadir : Ilmu Hukum Dan Ekonomi Islam, 5(2), 96–111.
Carpenter, M. (2020). Intersex human rights, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics and the Yogyakarta Principles plus 10. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 23(4), 516–532. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2020.1781262
Connell, R. (2009). Gender. Polity.
Davies, S. G. (2010). Gender diversity in Indonesia: Sexuality, Islam and queer selves. Routledge. https://api.taylorfrancis.com/content/books/mono/download?identifierName=doi&identifierValue=10.4324/9780203860953&type=googlepdf
Dhamayanti, F. S. (2022). Pro-Kontra Terhadap Pandangan Mengenai LGBT Berdasarkan Perspektif HAM, Agama, dan Hukum di Indonesia. Ikatan Penulis Mahasiswa Hukum Indonesia Law Journal, 2(2), 210–231. https://doi.org/10.15294/ipmhi.v2i2.53740
Eliyah, E., & Aslan, A. (2025). STAKE’S EVALUATION MODEL: METODE PENELITIAN. Prosiding Seminar Nasional Indonesia, 3(2), Article 2.
Hamzić, V. (2025). Queer theory. In Research Handbook on Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL) (pp. 195–205). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://www.elgaronline.com/edcollchap/book/9781789901528/chapter17.xml
Iswahyudi, E. (2025). Human Rights and Legal Reforms in Indonesia: Challenges and Progress. The Journal of Academic Science, 2(2), 734–743. https://doi.org/10.59613/ydvwta66
Kelly, L. M., Ware, A., Badry, A. I., Barton, G., & Ware, V.-A. (2026). There are no gays in the village: Youth perspectives of LGBTQIA+ people in Java, Indonesia. Journal of Youth Studies, 29(2), 243–259. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2024.2426470
LewoLeba, K. K., Mulyadi, & Wahyuni, Y. Y. (2023). Perempuan Korban Kekerasan Berbasis Gender Online dan Perlindungan Hukumnya. UNES Law Review, 6(2), 7082–7096. https://doi.org/10.31933/unesrev.v6i2.1596
Pugu, M. R., & Aslan, A. (2025). GENDER DIFFERENCES IN LITERACY AND NUMERACY ACHIEVEMENT: A CRITICAL REVIEW. Indonesian Journal of Education (INJOE), 5(1), Article 1.
Sarahsita, R. S. H., & Hidajat, L. L. (2017). DINAMIKA INTERNALIZED SEXUAL STIGMA PADA LESBIAN MASKULIN YANG BELUM MENGALAMI PROSES COMING OUT (STUDI KASUS PADA DUA LESBIAN MASKULIN DI JAKARTA). MANASA, 6(1), 23–37.
Umam, S. (2023). Konsumerisme Agama: Bara Konflik Konservatisme Agama dan Arah Baru Penanganannya. VOX POPULI, 6(1), 29–49. https://doi.org/10.24252/vp.v6i1.35213
Wi, C., Haryadi, H., & Wahyudi, D. (2024). Bentuk Amicus Curiae Terhadap Anak Sebagai Korban Kekerasan Seksual. PAMPAS: Journal of Criminal Law, 5(2), 127–138. https://doi.org/10.22437/pampas.v5i2.33454
Wieringa, S. (2002). Sexual Politics in Indonesia. Springer.
Yansyah, R., & Rahayu, R. (2018). GLOBALISASI LESBIAN, GAY, BISEKSUAL, DAN TRANSGENDER (LGBT): PERSPEKTIF HAM DAN AGAMA DALAM LINGKUP HUKUM DI INDONESIA. LAW REFORM, 14(1), 132–146. https://doi.org/10.14710/lr.v14i1.20242
Zed, M. (2008). Metode Penelitian Kepustakaan. Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia.
Zulfiko, R. (2024). Hak Atas Privasi tanpa Memandang Sogie bagi Kelompok LGBT dalam Yogyakarta Principle Tinjauan berbasis Paradigma Hukum Transendental. Prosiding Seminar Nasional Program Doktor Ilmu Hukum, 275–294.
Komnas HAM. (2016). Laporan keadaan hak atas kebebasan dari diskriminasi berdasarkan orientasi seksual dan identitas gender di Indonesia. Komnas HAM.
Komnas HAM. (2021). Catatan tahunan hak asasi manusia 2021. Komnas HAM.
Komnas Perempuan. (2025). Catatan tahunan kekerasan berbasis gender terhadap perempuan 2025. Komnas Perempuan.
Mahkamah Konstitusi RI. (2017). Putusan Nomor 99/PUU-XIV/2016. MKRI.
Sekretariat Negara RI. (2022). Undang-Undang Nomor 12 Tahun 2022 tentang Tindak Pidana Kekerasan Seksual. Lembaran Negara RI Tahun 2022 Nomor 85.
