On the night of June 22, 2025, Indonesian police in collaboration with unidentified vigilante groups raided a private villa in Megamendung, Puncak, West Java, where a community-organized event titled “Big Star Got Talent” was taking place. The event featured performances such as singing, dancing, and fashion shows which are common forms of social and artistic expression. Yet, because the participants were mostly known as mostly identified as Gay, Bisexual, or Queer men (GBQ), the gathering was swiftly framed by state actors and media outlets as a so-called “gay sex party.”

Seventy-five individuals were detained arbitrarily without legal basis. They were subjected to degrading treatment including forcibly subjected to HIV testing, public shaming through media exposure, and threats of criminal charges under inappropriate and unfounded legal provisions under Indonesia’s Penal Code and the Anti-Pornography Law. such as Article 7 and Article 10 of Law Number 44 of 2008 on Pornography (Pornography Law), and Article 296 of the Indonesian Penal Code (KUHP).

No evidence of criminal activity, nudity, or sexual misconduct was found at the scene, yet public officials and media alike perpetuated harmful narratives to justify their actions.

This incident highlights a persistent pattern of criminalizing LGBTIQ+ communities in Indonesia and across Southeast Asia under vague moral or public order laws. These actions not only violate domestic protections for assembly and privacy but also contravene international human rights obligations, as well as the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. ASEAN SOGIE Caucus notes multiple, intersecting human rights violations in this case, including:

1. Arbitrary Arrest and Detention: Individuals were detained without legal basis or warrants, violating their right to liberty and security.

2. Violation of the Right to Privacy: Authorities captured and shared images of the detained without consent, publicly exposing them to stigma and potential harm.

3. Forced Medical Procedures: Detainees were subjected to coerced HIV testing without informed consent, violating bodily autonomy and health rights.

4. Involvement of Vigilante Groups in Law Enforcement: The participation of non-state actors in the arrest process threatens rule of law and increases the risk of violence.

5. Criminalization of Peaceful Assembly: A lawful and non-violent private gathering was forcibly stopped, thereby violating the right to peaceful assembly

6. Trial by Media and Public Shaming: Sensationalist media coverage encouraged by police actions violated the right to presumption of innocence and dignity.

7. Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation: The raid was clearly motivated by anti-LGBTIQ+ bias, breaching domestic constitutional protections and international human rights obligations.

The ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC) strongly condemns the egregious violations of human rights, the abuse of power by law enforcement officers, and the perpetuation of state-enabled stigma and violence. We view this incident as emblematic of a broader trend of authoritarian moralism that targets LGBTIQ+ individuals and communities across the region.

We call upon:

1. The Indonesian Government and Law Enforcement Agencies to immediately drop all charges against the 75 individuals, issue a formal apology, and launch an independent investigation into misconduct and unlawful detention.

2. The Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to conduct an independent investigation and redress for those affected, including public accountability for forced medical testing and violation of privacy.

3. The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) responded to this alarming trend by urging Member States to reform national laws that allow the criminalization of peaceful, private gatherings.

4. National and regional media bodies to enforce journalistic ethics that prevent harmful and discriminatory reporting, particularly against sexual and gender minorities.

5. Civil society across Southeast Asia to act in solidarity and vigilance, resisting any efforts to silence, erase, or persecute LGBTIQ+ lives under the guise of public morality.

Events like Big Star Got Talent are not threats to society, they are affirmations of dignity, creativity, and the right to peace, assembly and association. The continued persecution of LGBTIQ+ persons only deepens marginalization and weakens democracy across our region.

We demand justice. We demand dignity. We demand freedom.

ASEAN SOGIE Caucus together with  LGBTQIA+ advocates and allies from ASEAN

3 July 2025

Organizations signatories:

1. ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
2. Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies (SGRC UI)
3. Society of Trans Women of the Philippines
4. Mujer-LGBT Organization Inc
5. Queers of Burma Alternative 
6. Non-Binary Thailand
7. Iloilo Pride Team
8. Tagoloan Gender Advocacy Group (TAGAD)
9. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
10. Queerlangga
11. NORTHERN LUZON PRIDE
12. OSSAYA CORP.
13. Solidaritas Kolektif Iris
14. Lentera Sintas Indonesia
15. Legal Dignity
16. Boys Of Indonesia
17. Raise Your Voice CBO 
18. Igama malang
19. PurpleCode
20. LakanBini Advocates Pilipinas 
21. Warna Sehati
22. Rumah Cemara
23. BulSU Balangay
24. East and Southeast Asians North East
25. HUMANE
26. Tanah le Saè